Film fans will soon be able to enjoy some big screen time as cinemas announce their plans to reopen.
Here’s what we know so far. All the opening dates are subject to the government policies on easing lockdown.
Cineworld
Cineworld announced its intentions yesterday (Wednesday), with a planned reopening on 10 July.
The new cinema at Monks Cross features 13 screens including an IMAX theatre, immersive cinema experience ScreenX, and ViP viewing screens, complete with complimentary dining, and luxury reclining seats.
Its safety measures include:
- Social distancing will be implemented across all areas within the cinema. Friends and family can sit together while ensuring a safe distance between customers from different households in our cinema screens. This will vary on the capacity and layout of each screen.
- All employee and customer toilets will be stocked with anti-bacterial hand soap, and stringent hand washing guidelines will be trained out to all employees to supplement our current personal hygiene policy.
- Hand sanitiser stations will be provided in all cinemas for customers and employees.
- A new cleaning programme will sanitise the high touch points within the cinema.
Vue
The recently refurbished Vue at Clifton Moor still has the best bargain ticket prices.
The chain has said it would like to reopen at least some of its cinemas by 4 July, when the government is set to lift restrictions.
More recently Tim Richards, chief executive of the Vue Cinemas chain, said he is “hopeful” that cinemas can be open in time for the release date of Christopher Nolan’s new film, Tenet, on 17 July.
The company said: “We have been liaising closely with authorities across Europe to design operating procedures that can provide the degree of social distancing required and allow an experience for our customers and staff that is as safe as possible.”
Measures could include “physically isolating family groups through our online booking systems, staggering film times to maintain social distancing and operate responsibly, and introducing enhanced cleaning and employee protection protocols”.
City Screen
City Screen on Coney Street is York’s city centre indie movie house.
It is part of the Picturehouse chain which has announced it will begin opening cinemas from 10 July.
“We will confirm which locations are due to open on 10 July in the coming weeks,” the company said.
When it does reopen, safety measures will include:
- Social distancing will be in place throughout the cinema
- Hand sanitiser will be available in each cinema
- A limited number of seats will be available to ensure social distancing in screen
- Enhanced cleaning throughout the day
- Film screenings will have staggered start times to allow for safe entry and exit of the cinema
Everyman
The plush converted Odeon on Blossom Street is part of the Everyman chain.
It has yet to publish a reopening date, saying: “We are still here if you have any questions and we will make sure to keep you posted as soon as we know when we re-open.”