Have you been missing movie theatres? The darkness, the smell of salt and artificial butter, the comfy seats, the trailers that inevitably make you wish you were watching those movies instead of the movie you actually came to the cinema to see?
Good news, movie fans: some Village Cinemas are reopening at the end of June, with the entire network expected to be back in business by July 20.
That's not to say going to the movies will be exactly as it was in the Beforetime. There will be 1.5-metre markers on the ground in foyers and toilets to encourage physical distancing, and only every second row in the auditorium will be used. There will also be a two-seat buffer between groups, which as anyone who's given side-eye to a person who plonks down beside you in an almost-empty theatre knows, could be a vast improvement.
Cinemas themselves will be cleaned more thoroughly between shows, with increased time between screenings to allow for this. Tickets and candy bar items must be bought either online or via card, as Village won't be accepting cash. Although in places like Hong Kong cinema snacks have not been allowed, Village is planning to reopen its candy bars along with its theatres.
As is also the case in restaurants and bars, all patrons must provide names and phone numbers to allow for contact tracing.
All Village staff will have a temperature and health check before every shift, and staff will also be given protective equipment to keep them safe. Head to the website for more info.
Need more movie options? Carlton's beloved Cinema Nova is also reopening on June 22.
