Following a £3.5m refurbishment, the cinema re-opens on Wednesday.

And its new design recreates the era when the cinema first opened in 1937, as well as combining it with a Nineties and more futuristic look.

Odeon spokesman Richard Segal said: "The balcony that now faces on to Leicester Square itself will become one of the most photographed balconies in the world.

"At premières, which this cinema is famous for, you are going to see stars waving down to their adoring fans."

The Flying Ladies, a golden statue of naked women which created a stir among cinema-goers 60 years ago, has made a comeback.

Fake leopard-skin seats, front row and back

And so have fake leopard skin seats, hinting at a 1970s revival theme. The famous organ, coloured tube-lights and all, is certainly not going anywhere.

The extravagant facelift on the Odeon took place during the World Cup, when cinema audiences were at a low.