Cinema sets reopening date after six months in lockdown

The Forum Cinema in Hexham has announced plans to reopen on Friday, September 11 with health and safety measures and a new-look auditorium in place.

Although the cinema has engaged with the community through lockdown with outdoor and online screenings, staff are reported to be excited to finally welcome film fans back.

The biggest change is the new-look auditorium, which features two brand new stairways in the upper tier seating to allow groups to safely sit at a social distance from each other.

The newly built auditorium layout, combined with a clear one-way system around the cinema building, ensures customers will have a safe and socially distanced journey from entry to exit.

A significantly reduced capacity will also be in operation and a new booking system will automatically block off seats in between bookings.

The cinema has also confirmed that face coverings will be mandatory for staff and customers, except when consuming food and drinks. Furthermore, the cinema will be professionally cleaned and disinfected before reopening and trained staff will undertake an enhanced cleaning programme at regular points throughout the day.

Tickets can now be booked online, with a phone service resuming from September 11.

A spokesman for the Forum said: "There is something for everyone in the opening two week programme, with a mix of films that were cancelled due to lockdown such as the feel-good Military Wives and Radioactive, some family-friendly animations including Trolls: World Tour, Modern French masterpiece Portrait of a Lady on Fire, new Russell Crowe thriller Unhinged, and a couple of big-screen classics Jurassic Park and The Matrix.

"Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated blockbuster Tenet will be coming to the Forum soon, and there is a range of screen arts lined up, including recordings of Andre Rieu’s Maastricht concert, Matthew Bourne’s ballet The Red Shoes, and a new documentary about David Attenborough."