Perthshire ’s independent cinemas - Perth Playhouse and the Birks Cinema Aberfeldy - were free to reopen their doors yesterday, May 17.
But it will not be until July that audiences can sit back and watch an indoor film in either Perthshire venue.
The Perth Playhouse explained on social media: “Following the latest Government announcements, we are delighted to confirm we are now accepting reservations for private hire screenings from July 9 and plan to commence our regular screenings from this date also.”
And the Birks also has no plans to be bringing the public inside the iconic restored Art Deco building just yet.
The first moves will be at the end of June.
Next month, the Birks will unveil a brand new catering offer with a tempting new menu for movie-goers to enjoy inside.
There will also be a Drive-in Cinema weekend in Aberfeldy, June 18,19 and 20 in the town’s greenspace in Wade’s Park.
Anna Beedham, enterprise director for the Birks, said: “We are so pleased about the news that cinemas are able to reopen, however with the current 2m social distancing restrictions in place, it isn’t a financially viable situation for most cinemas.
“We are hopeful that by July, when we reopen our beloved cinema doors, restrictions will have eased further.”
Cinema reopening across Scotland is being supported with an additional £1.98million Scottish Government support for independent cinemas through Screen Scotland’s Independent Cinema Recovery and Resilience Fund.
Precautions are being taken to ensure going to cinemas is a safe and enjoyable experience. The new look for auditoriums including spaced seating, enhanced cleaning, fresh air ventilated screens, more opportunities to pre-book online and distanced queuing and foyer spacing.
New releases hitting the big screen over the coming months include Oscar Winning films like The Sound of Metal and Nomadland.
BAFTA-nominated Limbo from Scotland-based filmmakers Director Ben Sharrock and producer Irune Gurtubai is out in July and so is Fast and Furious 9, also due for release in the summer.
Sambrooke Scott, head of audience development at Screen Scotland, said: “The COVID crisis has presented independent cinemas with one of the toughest challenges ever faced.
“Screen Scotland will continue to work tirelessly to support cinemas return.”
See https://perthplayhouse.co.uk and www.birkscinema.co.uk
