By Laura Michell
Film lovers will be able to catch a movie on the big screen at Plenty Valley from Thursday.
Village Cinemas will reopen its Plenty Valley cinema on July 2, with up to 20 patrons in each space. However a reopening of the Sunshine cinema is still on hold.
Village had planned to open both cinemas with a capacity of 50 patrons this week, but on June 21, Premier Daniel Andrews announced a tightening of restrictions until July 12 in response to a recent surge in coronavirus cases.
Village Cinemas decided to postpone the reopenings until July 20 but late last week revised its plans and said the Plenty Valley reopening would go ahead.
“After closing its doors on March 23, 2020 has been a challenging year for Village Cinemas and its loyal staff base.
“Village Cinemas is committed to providing movie-lovers with a safe and quality social experience,” the company said.
Village Entertainment chief executive Kirk Edwards said Village Cinemas would implement several new health and safety measures once its theatres reopened.
Social distancing measures will be enforced within foyers, restrooms and inside cinema auditoriums, with health and safety signage marking 1.5-metre distances and hand sanitiser available.
Audience capacities will be reduced, with seating to be allocated to allow for every second row to be vacant and a two-seat gap on either side of each group of cinema-goers.
Guests will be encouraged to pre-purchase their tickets and candy bar items online and cash payments will not be accepted at the candy bar or ticket box.
Details: www.villagecinemas.com.au/COVID19SAFE
