Rowley Leigh's food brought to your Odeon seat

Cinema food is normally limited to popcorn, hotdogs and fizzy drinks, with perhaps nachos smothered in melted cheese for the more "adventurous" film-goer.

But one cinema chain has decided to offer Londoners a menu that includes fillet steak and red mullet risotto.

The Odeon at Whiteleys shopping centre in Queensway is launching a cinema called The Lounge which gives customers the option of ordering and eating a meal while watching a film.
It has asked acclaimed chef Rowley Leigh of Le Café Anglais to devise a menu of easy-to-eat dishes that can be ordered and delivered to the seat during the trailers.

Mr Leigh said the menu will include a hamburger "royale" with a fillet steak in a bun for about £14.50, red mullet risotto, deep fried squid and salsify fritters, all for about £10. There will also be gourmet versions of popcorn and ice cream sodas with flavours such as lemongrass.

Mr Leigh, who has worked at Le Gavroche and who ran Kensington Place through the Nineties, said the dishes "will have to be slightly different from tackling grouse on the bone with a bottle of burgundy. I wouldn't exactly say it's my take on fast food but it will have to be something that is remarkably tactile".

He added: "For a twentysomething audience it's going to be quite 'out there' but at the same time it's really going to draw people in. A couple will be able to go out and spend £30 to £40 a head and get a great meal with waiter service and a glass of wine or a gin and tonic and see a terrific movie."

The reclinable leather seats will all have a call button so the movie-goer can summon a waiter. Alternatively the meals can be ordered in the bar beforehand. All the serving will be completed before the main film starts.

Five 50-seater screens will offer the "fine food and film" service, which is widespread in America.