Jessica Micallef
The aroma of buttery popcorn is wafting through the air again at the Reading Cinemas in Sunbury.
The cinema reopened its doors to customers yesterday after three months of blank screens, and cinema manager Amelia Clarke couldn’t be more thrilled.
“It is unbelievably exciting,” she said.
“We are very happy we get to reopen. It has been a crazy three months.”
The cinema closed in March due to strict coronavirus restrictions, forcing many cinema-goers to enjoy the movie experience at home.
While film lovers are able to return to the cinema auditorium, a trip to the movies is now a little bit different.
Stickers on floor encourage social distancing, while there are also designated entry and exit doors, hand sanitiser at the entry and at the toilets, and enhanced cleaning.
“In the cinema, there is always going to be a two-seat gap next to you so you will always have an empty two seats on either side of you,” Ms Clarke said.
“No one can sit behind you or in front of you and it’s an absolute 50 maximum people per auditorium.
“But because our theatres are smaller, it can be less than 50 people as well … so because of that we are really urging people to buy tickets online just so they don’t miss out.
“We are completely cashless as well.”
Sneeze screens have been installed at the candy bar and popcorn boxes will be handed to customers in a bag, while straws will be placed in paper wrapping.
Movie times have been reduced to three per cinema and shorter operating hours have been implemented.
“Our first session will be about noon [and] we have cut out late-night sessions too so the last movie will start around 7pm,” Ms Clarke said.
“We will tell people to come into the cinemas about 15 minutes before their session so you will go straight through to the cinema so no one is hanging around.”
Tickets and details: bit.ly/3cZ7Tzi
