Cineworld has confirmed its intentions to reopen screens across the UK and Ireland more than two weeks later than initially intended next month.
The cinema chain had previously announced it would once again open to the public on 10th July, after being given the green light by the government to do so, but this date has now been pushed back to 31st July.
A statement on the Cineworld website and social media platforms this morning reads: “In line with recent changes to upcoming film release dates, we have made the decision to move our re-opening date to 31st July. We hope that we will be able to re-open the doors of all Cineworld cinemas across the UK and Ireland at that time, subject to UK government restrictions.”
“With the on-going pandemic, this new date remains subject to final confirmation.”
We know how much you’ve been missing the cinema and we are excited to welcome you back to Cineworld soon.”
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.
Speaking ahead of cinemas reopening in UK & Ireland, Mooky Greidinger, CEO at Cineworld, said: “Movie fans around the world continue to be excited by the strong slate of summer films ahead, including Tenet, Mulan, A Quiet Place Part II, Unhinged, The Broken Hearts Gallery, Bill & Ted Face the Music, Greenland, and Antebellum, as well as a special re-release of Christopher Nolan’s Inception on IMAX.”
“Cineworld looks forward to welcoming these moviegoers back to our cinemas next month and believes that they will once again be immersed in the timeless theatrical experience they know and love.”
Wikimedia Commons
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.
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.
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.
Kris Luhares (via Unsplash)
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.
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.
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André Onana is set to leave Manchester United on loan as early as next week
Danny Jones
Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana is reportedly leaving the club as early as next week as he prepares to make a late move to mainland Europe.
It’s fair to characterise Onana‘s time at Old Trafford as fraught and divisive, to say the least, but now the Cameroonian keeper is set to leave Man United on loan for the rest of the season.
While most dealings had to be completed at the start of the month, Turkey’s own transfer window is still open for another few days, and now, the seemingly exiled shot-stopper is set to spend a potentially future-defining spell in the Süper Lig.
Preparing for his soon-to-be fully completed move to Trabzonspor, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano states that he will complete the deal next week.
As detailed by Romano, the 29-year-old former Ajax number one – who arrived as one of the first key signings under Erik ten Hag – has personally agreed to the terms of the switch.
It is a little surprise too, as the journalist claims that Onana will earn more money overall, with the Turkish team set to fully cover his United salary, plus the signing fee and bonuses, taking the overall package beyond his base wage of £120,000 a week.
Although both clubs have agreed to a season-long loan, with Trabzonspor promising more than his normal pay packet has been at Old Trafford, there is no loan fee or obligation/option to buy included.
Safe to say that not all supporters will be exactly sad to see him go, as despite some good moments in the shirt (including besting both David de Gea and Peter Schmeichel’s penalty save ratio early doors), his tenure in Manchester has been less ‘Theatre of Dreams’ has been far from it.
So much so, in fact, that in response to the news of his imminent departure, a compilation of all his unforced errors thus far was quickly shared online:
Once his medical has been completed and the final Ts have been crossed, Onana will be one of several statement outgoings from Man United this summer, with the likes of Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Rasmus Højlund all leaving the club in the last couple of months.
While only Garnacho’s was a direct sale, Onana’s is the only other one of these loan deals which doesn’t necessarily imply a permanent move away as yet.
Either way, the ever-controversial keeper willneedto make the next 12 months or so very impressive if he has any hopes of standing between the sticks for United again, especially with Altay Bayindir now quickly returning to the second string with the arrival of Senne Lammens.
What about you, Reds – are you sad to see him go, and do you think this time away could see him revive his Premier League career?
Featured Images — Happiraphael (via Wikimedia Commons)
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A sneak peek at the first pour: Greater Manchester celebrates the return of Boddingtons
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester has every reason to drink and jubilate this Friday and toast the perfect excuse for an early dart as the first fresh pours in a new chapter for Boddingtons beer have been sunk.
And by’eck if ain’t still bloody gorgeous.
That’s right, in case you didn’t hear the latest news about ‘Cream of Manchester’, we can now officially and ever-so gladly confirm that Boddingtons Bitter is properly back on draught in the region.
With the iconic cask ale making a glorious return decades on from its glory days in the 1990s, the new and improved Boddies beer is flowing from the taps – just in time for the weekend, no less.
Yes, with local brewery and pub chain J.W. Lees taking over the manufacturing and distribution, leaving the Budweiser Group to take over the licensing, the updated recipe Boddingtons – which clocks in at a 4.0% ABV – is about to be rolled out across the 10 boroughs.
Better yet, with five native pubs having already reinstalled honey yellow and black pumps, and with Lees looking to deliver it to the ale-loving masses across the North West, this could be the biggest Manc comeback since, well, those two lads from Burnage…
Speaking of: we were invited along to Founder’s Hall on Albert Square (formerly Duttons and now home to every one of the brand’s beers, not to mention serving as a tribute to John Lees himself), for a special ceremony to celebrate the inaugural public pints of Boddies being poured.
Let’s just say we were honoured to be part of the grand resurrection.
Obviously, there have been some holdouts hanging onto the classic Mancunian brew, and we certainly had fun trying to track them down over the past couple of years, but we’re just glad we don’t have to do as much work to find one now.
Managing Director of JW Lees, William Lees-Jones, said on the relaunch: “When I joined JW Lees in 1994, Boddingtons was ‘The Cream of Manchester’ and we were in awe of their position in leading the cask beer revolution.
“We’re proud to bring it back home, starting with Founder’s Hall, and we’re planning to restore Boddington’s as one of the UK’s leading premium cask beers, particularly here in the North West.” Well said, sir.
Available from Founder’s Hall, The Black Friar in Salford, Stables Tavern; Sams Chop House, The Circus Tavern, Oxford Road Tap, Piccadilly Tap and Victoria Tap from today, as well as Corbières and Stockport pubs like The Crown and The White Lion, we can’t wait to see Boddingtons take over the nation.
In the meantime, why not look back at the storied history behind one of our finest exports?
The Manc -
30th June 2020 
