Vue Cinemas delay reopening to 7 August

Vue cinemas have announced plans for a phased re-opening to the public in England from Friday, 7 August.

The multiplex chain, which operates 91 cinemas throughout the UK and Ireland with over 870 screens, originally planned to reopen from Friday, 31 July after delaying from 4 July, but that date has now been pushed back by a week.

Cinemas have been closed across the UK and Ireland since mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic, but were given the green light to reopen in the UK from 4 July. However, due to a lack of new films and social-distancing measures limiting customer intake, only 187 sites have reopened so far.

Vue plans to initially open just ten sites across England on 7 August with new measures in place to ensure the safeguarding of staff and customers.

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Measures taken include online booking, enhanced cleaning protocols, physical distancing, reduced touch points, and staggered film times. Customers will also be required to take part in the Test & Trace initiative.

The Vue sites reopening on 7 August:

• Bromley

• Cheshire Oaks

• Cramlington

• Doncaster

• Edinburgh Ocean

• Farnborough

• Islington

• Manchester Lowry

• Oxford

• Westfield Shepherd’s Bush

Tickets will be available as of Thursday, 30 July at myvue.com.

Toby Bradon, Territory General Manager of Vue Entertainment in the UK, said: “Behind the scenes, we’ve been working hard to develop safety protocols in line with government guidelines and informed by our recently reopened cinemas across Europe.

The safety of those who work and visit our sites is paramount and we’ve therefore taken the time to ensure protocols and staff training are in line with the latest guidance ahead of opening.”

The chain will reopen with a mixture of new releases and classic films.

Bradon adds: “We can’t wait to welcome back film-lovers. The quality of our viewing experience remains unchanged and we’re continuing to offer the best sound and picture quality in big screen entertainment.

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“There’s a lot to look forward to on the big screen this year, including the hotly anticipated releases of Wonder Woman 1984 and The King’s Man, as well as filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s latest blockbuster, Tenet.

“A number of ‘customer favourite’ films will also be back on the big screen where they belong including the Harry Potter series; Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back; and a collection of Nolan’s catalogue including Batman Begins, Inception and Dunkirk.”

Tenet is slated for release in the UK on 26 August.