Cineworld is planning to reopen ALL of its cinemas in July when lockdown restrictions are eased with social distancing measures in place
- The company says it has taken steps to keep its returning customers safe
- Comes after a cinema in Berlin tore out a number of seats to keep people apart
- Cinema group HOYTS in Australia has introduced ‘chequerboard style’ seating
Cineworld is planning to reopen all of its cinemas in July when lockdown restrictions are eased with social distancing measures in place.
Bosses said that its cinemas up and down the country would open when restrictions are lifted.
‘Cineworld currently anticipates that Government restrictions related to cinemas will be lifted in each of its territories by July.
Cineworld is planning to reopen all of its cinemas in July when lockdown restrictions are eased with social distancing measures in place (file photo)
‘Subject to this and confirmation of the schedule for film releases, Cineworld anticipates the reopening of all of its cinemas in July,’ the cinema giant said in a statement to investors on Thursday.
‘Cineworld has put in place procedures to ensure a safe and enjoyable cinema experience for its employees and customers.’
It promised to be ‘the best place to watch a movie’ even as social distancing measures are likely to hugely change the experience of going to the cinema.
Bosses at the cinema chain said: ‘Cineworld is excited by the great movie line-up to follow the reopening of cinemas, starting with the highly anticipated new Chris Nolan movie Tenet and immediately after that with Mulan, a new Disney adventure movie.
‘Cineworld, as always, greatly believes in the theatrical experience and is fully committed to be the best place to watch a movie.’
Bosses also said they had managed to secure another 110 million US dollars (£90 million) through increasing the amount it is able to borrow from its banks.
It has also been approved for an additional potential 45 million dollars (£37 million) in Government-backed coronavirus large business interruption loans.
The new funding gives the company enough headroom to support the chain even if cinemas have to stay closed until the end of the year, managers said. The company’s shares rose by 25% after the news.
Both theaters have also cordoned seating areas inside their theaters to ensure groups are sitting six feet apart
Ahead of Britain’s cinemas reopening, theatres across the US and Europe have been opening their doors.
In Texas, some seats were taped off with caution tape and airport-style security checks have been introduced.
In Berlin, one theatre has ripped out many of its seats to ensure distance between members of the audience. Others have installed plastic screens between seats.
In Australia, cinema chain HOYTS said they will initiate a number of new protocols once they reopen.
Cinema chain Hoyts Australia excited movie-goers on Monday with a social media post claiming they were ‘reopening soon’ (stock image)
The post said the chain was reopening in the ‘coming weeks’ to bring people the latest films
A statement on social media said: ‘These measures will include additional staff training, temperature checks for staff, additional cleaning protocols, in cinema seat separation (chequerboard style), encouragement for online bookings and social distancing.’
And Tim Richards, who owns Vue Cinemas, said earlier this month that his group was taking time to rethink how they can adapt to changing times.
He said: ‘We can actually control how many people go into our cinema at any given time. We have the ability to schedule our films separately and we have the ability to control entrances and exits for customers.
‘We have operating systems in place today which allow social distancing and cocooning within the cinema for couples, individuals or families who want to watch a movie.’