Reading Roars!

Walking past Debenhams this afternoon, I chanced upon a large crowd of people standing somewhat cheerfully outside Vue. Were they waiting for a movie celebrity? Was Johnny Depp in town? I popped over to investigate, joining more onlookers on the Oracle Riverside bridge.

Hearing an alarm ringing from within the cinema foyer, I suspected a fire. Or something terrorist-related (you can’t discount it these days). Two people standing beside me answered my question (though not conclusively):

A: There’s a fire, the alarm’s gone off and they’re waiting outside.
B: There’s no fire, it’s just a drill!
A: It’s a fire. I used to be a fireman.

So was it a fire or not? I didn’t see a plume of smoke, and late Saturday afternoon is not a suitable time for a drill. It’s a burning issue - can anyone help?