The cinema chain has suffered in recent months due to lockdown.
There are a lot of things regarding the 'new normal' that we've had to get used to - the rule of six (opens in new tab) and a 10pm curfew to name just a few. How we've spent our weekends during lockdown has seen a considerable change - with theatre, gig and cinemas trips off the cards for much of 2020. We've learned to enjoy our gatherings on Zoom, and have a new love for online shopping (did you know it's Amazon Prime Day (opens in new tab) and you can get some fabulous Prime Day beauty deals (opens in new tab), as well as health, fashion and electrical bargains today?)
But this new routine comes with consequences and, sadly, some cinema and theatre venues around the country are facing closure. Vue Cinemas have now announced plans to close a quarter of its cinema complexes across the UK - but which ones are set to close its doors three days a week?
Why are Vue Cinemas closing?
Filmgoers received a blow earlier this month when they were told of the delays in the release of a string of Hollywood blockbusters - including the new James Bond movie No Time To Die, which has now been delayed until 2021.
But now the entertainment chain has confirmed which of its 91 sites will have restricted opening hours to just four days - with 21 places affected. Netflix and binge watching boxsets is something many of us have been taking advantage of over the last seven months after the country was placed into lockdown back in March. And from next week (19 October), watching movies at home via online streaming services is something which more of us will have to take advantage of - especially if your local cinema is on the reduced opening list.
Vue Cinemas has taken the urgent step to cut costs amid the coronavirus pandemic and those affected sites will close their doors on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. All of the venues continue to operate a face mask policy in the venues, which is a government requirement.
The closures come after rival chain Cineworld announced it was going to temporarily close 127 of its Cineworld and Picturehouse sites across the country and for some families looking for a cheap day out, the cinema would have previously been a useful option mid-week. -especially during the half-term holidays.
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The chief executive of Vue Cinemas had previously said cinema chains had been dealt a "body blow" by the delay to the new 007 film No Time To Die - which isn't due to be released now until Spring 2021.
Vue boss Tim Richards said, 'Our problem right now is we have no movies. This was a big blow for us. We're likely going to make it through; I'm concerned about the independents and the small regional operators right now that are going to really struggle, and when they close they may not reopen.'
It was expected to follow in the footsteps of the 2015 Bond movie Spectre, and fetch £80million at UK box offices.
Other big film release delays include Marvel film Black Widow, sci-fi blockbuster Dune and Jurassic World: Dominion, as a result of the global pandemic.
Vue Cinemas closing: the venues which will be affected from next week are
- Vue Accrington
- Vue Altrincham
- Vue Barrow
- Vue Birkenhead
- Vue Blackburn
- Vue Cardiff
- Vue Carmarthen
- Vue Cleveleys
- Vue Dagenham
- Vue Hull Princes Quay
- Vue Lancaster
- Vue Newbury
- Vue Piccadilly
- Vue Redditch
- Vue Rhyl
- Vue Scunthorpe
- Vue Shepherds Bush
- Vue Stroud
- Vue Swansea
- Vue West End (Leicester Square)
- Vue Wood Green
More details on upcoming screening and film releases here
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