CINEWORLD is to reopen all of its UK cinema branches in July.
It has confirmed cinemas will be open again, subject to government guidance.
The cinema chain closed its doors on March 17, just ahead of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s lockdown announcement on March 23.
The company said in a statement it has “put in place procedures to ensure a safe and enjoyable cinema experience for its employees and customers”.
It had been expected that cinemas, along with pubs and hairdressers, will be allowed to open if the UK passes five tests.
These include the rate of infection dropping to manageable levels, a sustained and constant fall in the death rate, and there being enough testing and PPE.
The statement said the Cineworld group has agreed to new funding.
It said: “Cineworld expects that this additional liquidity, to the extent required, will provide it with sufficient headroom to support the Group even in the unlikely event cinemas remain closed until the end of the year.”
The funding includes $110m of liquidity to increase its credit facility, and £45bn from the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS).
It comes as Boris Johnson confirmed that non-essential shops will reopen on June 15 and hairdressers and pubs prepare to reopen in July, according to the government’s three-stage roadmap plan.
Odeon, Vue, and Picturehouse have also all kept their doors shut since March.
To safely reopen cinemas, the Government will introduce pilot reopening in order to test the social distancing guidelines.
Venues that are naturally crowded and where it would be hard to practice social distancing will have to remain closed until it’s safe enough to reopen them.
A number of businesses have begun to open their doors again, including restaurant chains and garden centres.
While some high-street shops, including John Lewis, are also planning on reopening next month.
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