Cinema owner's delight at new films to show for reopening

Champagne corks will be flying at the Pavilion for the release of Peter Rabbit 2.

Final preparations are being made for the projectors to be switched on, and the screens will light up again after almost five months of closure due to the second Covid-19 lockdown.Cinema manager Andrew Poole said: “The past 14 months have been extraordinarily difficult for so many people and our thoughts go out to anyone who has been affected by the virus.

"But we’re now on the final stretch and, this time when we do reopen, we will have a terrific choice of new films to show our amazing customers.”Headlining the films on offer from reopening day is Peter Rabbit 2 featuring James Corden and Margot Robbie. At the opposite end of the culture scale is Best Picture Oscar-winner ‘Nomadland’ starring Frances McDormond, and horrors ‘The Unholy’ and ‘Spiral: Book of Saw’.Mr Poole added: “When we reopened in August last year, after the first lockdown, we basically had one film to support us for the first few weeks which was Christopher Nolan’s ‘Tenet’.

This time couldn’t be more different with seven new films on reopening day, then three or four new films each week thereafter.

"Over the summer we’re expecting to be busy with ‘A Quiet Place Part II’, ‘Fast & Furious 9’, ‘The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard’, ‘Black Widow’ and Disney’s ‘Jungle Cruise’.

"Towards the end of the year we’ll finally be treated to two films which have been pushed and pushed several times due to the effect of the pandemic on cinemas on a global scale, Daniel Craig’s final outing as James Bond in ‘No Time To Die’, now opening on September 30. And ‘Top Gun Maverick’ now opening on November 19.

“When we do reopen, we will of course be following all the government mandated protection rules, which will at first include keeping to the 2m distancing rule. The result of this is that we can only operate at about 23% capacity in any hall. It’s impossible to even cover costs at that level, so we remain appreciative of the financial support we’ve had from the Scottish Government and Creative Scotland, without which, there’s no question we wouldn’t be here now.

"We can’t wait to welcome our customers back to enjoy the Big Screen experience that simply can’t be replicated at home.”