Cineworld has officially confirmed today that it will be reopening screens across the country in July and has also released a detailed statement on how it intends to operate.
The cinema chain will be be welcoming visitors to screens in England from Friday 10th July.
The opening date is subject to final clarifications and confirmation in regards to UK government restrictions and dates for reopening cinemas in Scotland, Wales and Ireland are expected to follow.
Films lined-up to be shown upon reopening include Mulan, Tenet, A Quiet Place Part II and No Time To Die.
Cineworld is the second-largest cinema chain in the world, operating 128 branches in the UK & Ireland and a number of which are based in Greater Manchester.
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If you are bored of "home"… 😉 We are excited to announce that we are planning to reopen Cineworld Cinemas across England on 10 July! Details here >> https://t.co/z0VSxucpTnpic.twitter.com/fDq1R0fooe
In order to provide a safe environment for employees and guests in light of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Cineworld has released a comprehensive list of safety measures it is putting in place ahead of reopening next month:
SOCIAL DISTANCING – Social distancing measures will be implemented across all areas within the cinema.
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HAND WASHING – All employee and customer toilets will be stocked with anti-bacterial hand soap, and stringent hand washing guidelines will be trained out to all employees to supplement our current personal hygiene policy.
HAND SANITISERS – Hand sanitiser stations will be provided in all cinemas for customers and employees.
ADDITIONAL CLEANING Cineworld’s already high cleaning standards will be enhanced by a cleaning programme designed to sanitise the high touch points within the cinema.
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E-TICKETING – Tickets will be available to book in advance on our website and via the Cineworld app, available on IOS and Android. Confirmation emails can be used as tickets, and e-tickets are available on the app.
UPDATED SEATING MAPS – The booking system has been updated to allow friends and family to sit together while ensuring a safe distance between customers from different households in our cinema screens.
This will vary on the capacity and layout of each screen.
Wikimedia Commons
STAGGERED FILM TIMES – Film start and end times will be staggered to reduce customers cross paths with other customers going in or out of other screens and buildup of crowds in the foyer. Additional cleaning time will also be added between films.
PLASTIC SCREENS AT THE TILL – Screens will be added at concessions areas where safe distancing cannot be maintained.
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CONTACTLESS PAYMENTS – Tills will be accepting contactless card payments up to a value of £45 and Apple Pay/Google Pay mobile payments with no limit. The ticket machines in most of cinemas will also accept contactless payments and the rest will be upgrading in due course.
TRAINING & PPE – All employees will receive specific COVID-19 training and PPE will be provided to employees where the risk assessment has deemed it necessary, in line with government requirements.
SUPPORT FROM TEAM MEMBERS Trained staff will be on hand to offer assistance to customers.
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For more information ahead of reopening, you can visit the Cineworld website here.
News
The Premier League is keeping its crucial cap on away game ticket prices – for now
Danny Jones
The Premier League has announced it is extending its crucial price cap for away games, as the general cost of match tickets continues to creep up all over the country.
Most season card holders, be they here in Greater Manchester or elsewhere, are likely looking at their annual spending going up simply, so steps like these are key in keeping first division football as affordable as possible.
And that’s just the ongoing cost of living, let alone the clubs that are continuing the trend of charging more each year and, unfortunately, even pricing some supporters out entirely.
With that in mind, the news of England’s top-flight sides voting unanimously to keep the £30 cap intact for at least another two years comes as relief to those who spend most of the year putting their hard-earned cash towards following their team home and away.
BREAKING: The Premier League extend £30 cap on away tickets for another two seasons 🚨 pic.twitter.com/L336aZwmn3
Now confirmed to remain in place until the end of the 2027/28 campaign, travelling fans obviously still spend plenty of money on transport and so on every year, but at least they don’t have to worry about rising general admissions.
At least not for the time being…
Writing in a statement, the Premier League said: “Away fans help create the incredible atmosphere Premier League matches are renowned for. Since the cap’s implementation in 2016, it has contributed to attendance at away games increasing from 82% to 91%.”
They also acknowledged the significant and regular funds that supporters still spend on these trips, with plenty of people online also praising the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), which helped spearhead the campaign over a decade ago.
With so many other obstacles still getting in the way of fans making it to games either at their usual stadium or on an away day – not least of all the constant and increasingly frustrating rescheduling of fixtures – it’s good to see this isn’t an area the Prem are trying to target.
As always, the multi-billion-pound business can always seek out other, newer money spinners, and we’re absolutley certain they will. For instance, there’s at least one happening over in Spain that we’d happily see carried over here.
Following the news, this now means that fans will ultimately have enjoyed 12 back-to-back seasons of the benefit, and long may it continue.
Nevertheless, the biggest barrier for people to watch the beautiful game at its highest level in the UK remains the cost of standard tickets.
The likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Leeds and more have already let matchgoers know that their season ticket prices will be going up, and the likes of Man City have already seen backlash for increasing rates amid the expansion of the Etihad Campus.
Greater Manchester’s fire service officially rated ‘outstanding’ following inspection
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester’s fire service has officially been rated ‘outstanding’.
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has awarded published its latest inspection report, and has awarded Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) two ‘Outstanding’ ratings for the first time in the service’s history.
One ‘outstanding’ rating was given for the preventing of fire and emergencies, and one for values and culture.
Some of the areas of strength noted in the report include outstanding prevention work, acknowledging the service’s innovative partnership activity and targeted risk reduction programmes, and a ‘strong, positive, and inclusive’ culture, with strong communication and a clear focus on values, staff voice, and transparent decision making.
The service was also commended for having high levels of operational preparedness, and ‘effective’ governance and scrutiny, with ‘clear’ performance reporting and strategic direction.
In addition to the two ‘Outstanding’ ratings, inspectors also rated GMFRS as ‘Good’ in seven of the eight other inspection categories – including responding to fires and other emergencies, training and developing the right people with the right skills, and ensuring fairness and diversity across the workplace.
Inspectors also acknowledged the ‘significant capacity pressures’ on fire safety regulation across the UK, and the unique challenges posed by Greater Manchester’s complex and fast-changing urban environment.
“Greater Manchester has a fire and rescue service we can be proud of,” commented Mayor Andy Burnham, as the inspection report was published this week.
Greater Manchester’s fire service has officially been rated ‘outstanding’ following its latest inspection / Credit: GMFRS
“I’ve often said that GMFRS is one of the best services not just in this country, but anywhere. The inspectors’ findings reinforce this belief. I’m pleased that this strong inspection report recognises its outstanding prevention work as part of Greater Manchester’s Live Well approach, its outstanding culture and values, and consistently good performance across almost every other area.”
Chief Fire Officer, Dave Russell, added: “I am really pleased that the inspectors have recognised our progress towards this goal, by awarding us ‘Outstanding’ ratings for the first time in our service’s history.
“I am particularly pleased to have been awarded these for our nation-leading work on prevention, helping us to use our resources in the most effective way, and in our service’s culture, which I made my number one priority when joining the service.”
The Manc -
16th June 2020 
