“We’ve got to stay open this time, have increased capacity, and get back to as near to normal trading as possible.”
Cinema owners are calling for increased capacity and to be allowed to remain open after reopening their doors for the first time this year on Monday 7 June.
Graham Spurling, Joint Managing Director of Movies @ cinemas told Newstalk Breakfast that cinemas “can’t keep opening and closing like a book” as he hopes theatres will be permitted to return to normal soon.
“We hope this time we stay open, we can’t keep opening and closing like a book,” he said.
“We’ve got to stay open this time, have increased capacity, and get back to as near to normal trading as soon as possible.”
Spurling said that his cinemas are currently operating at around 10% of total capacity. However, he said that he will be lobbying to be allowed to increase capacity once the public health situation permits.
Cinemas are currently restricted to 50 people per screen with social distancing and increased hygiene measures. However, many smaller screening rooms will only be able to accommodate 15-20 people.
Movies that will be out in cinemas in Ireland from 7 June include A Quiet Place Part II, Cruella, Peter Rabbit 2, and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.
Odeon and Movies @ cinemas reopened big screens across Ireland today, meanwhile Omniplex Cinemas, meanwhile, has announced a phased re-opening plan for its theatres in Ireland.
From 7 June, the chain’s theatres in Arklow, Cork, Dundalk, Galway, Limerick, Rathmines, Sligo, Tralee and Wexford will reopen.
On 11 June, Omniplex cinemas in Carlow, Balbriggan, Drogheda, Monaghan, Roscommon and Waterford will return, while its theatres in Shannon and Longford will be back operating 18 June.
Cineworld Dublin has announced that it will be re-opening in the capital on 18 June.
Meanwhile, in Dublin City Centre, the Irish Film Institute will reopen its doors from 10 June, before the Light House Cinema on 25 June.
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