The UK’s largest cinema chain plans to reopen its multiplexes on July 10 with safety measures in place to ensure social distancing inside auditoriums.
Cineworld Group Plc, along with all other “non-essential” consumer businesses, was ordered to close by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on March 20 as the coronavirus lockdown came into effect.
But, after furloughing about 12,000 workers around the UK, the chain is preparing to reopen and has pencilled in Friday, July 10 for its opening day.
Disney’s live-action reboot of Mulan, alongside Christopher Nolan’s all-action spy drama Tenet, are among the titles scheduled for initial release.
Other blockbusters due to be screened during the summer include A Quiet Place Part II, Wonder Women 1984, Black Widow, Bond, Soul, and Top Gun Maverick.
Cineworld also stressed it will have safety measures in place at its outlets, such as the new multiplex in Plymouth’s £53million The Barcode leisure complex, including a booking system which will ensure social distancing in the auditoriums.
It will also schedule movie start times to make sure queues and crowds are avoided. Extra cleaning measures are coming into force too.
However, the opening of Britain’s and the USA’s Cineworld venues, both on July 10, lags behind its restart in other countries where the chain has cinemas, which perhaps gives an indication into how the virus is retreating internationally.
Cinemas in Poland and Bulgaria unlock on July 3, with Hungary and Romania expected on this date too, and in Czech Republic and Slovakia on June 26.
But the firm stressed all these scheduled opening dates these subject to “final clarifications and confirmation in relation to various government Covid-19 restrictions in certain territories”.
In a statement to the Stock Exchange the company said: “With several blockbuster movies including Tenet and Mulan now confirmed for release in the coming weeks, Cineworld is pleased to announce plans that will see it reopen cinemas across some territories during the last week of June, with all theatres expected to be open over the course of July.
“Amidst the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, Cineworld's main priority remains the health and well-being of both our customers and colleagues. As a result, it has made several operational changes and invested in new technology to ensure a safe but enjoyable cinematic experience for all our visitors.
“Among the new measures introduced, we have updated our booking system to ensure social distancing within and throughout our auditoriums; adapted our daily movie schedules to manage queues and avoid the build-up of crowds in our lobbies; and enhanced our cleanliness and sanitation procedures across all of our sites.
Cineworld chief executive Mooky Greidinger said: "We are thrilled to be back and encouraged by recent surveys that show that many people have missed going to the movie theatre.
“With a strong slate confirmed for the coming weeks, including among others Tenet, Mulan, A Quiet Place Part II, Wonder Women 1984, Black Widow, Bond, Soul, Top Gun Maverick and many more, the entire Cineworld team remains committed to being 'the best place to watch a movie' ".
