'We're ready to open' cinema owner plea to Stormont Executive
Last updated 18th Nov 2020
A Northern Ireland cinema owner warned today (Wednesday) not to forget them as the Stormont debate over businesses re-opening continues
Cafes and hairdressers are preparing to pull up the shutters again on Friday - at the end of another period of lockdown.
There has been no specific mention of cinemas - although it is expected they will be part of the second group of businesses due to reopen next week.
Now, Movie House owner Michael McAdam is calling on the Executive to consider leisure separately from hospitality when making its decisions on re-opening on November 27..
“We understand the need for caution but we fear we are getting lost in the debate about pubs and restaurants when we are a very different business,” he said.
“We don’t serve alcohol and there is no close contact between staff and customers so we believe we should not be subject to any further restrictions that may be debated.”
Mr McAdam says they've already spent heavily on health and safety measures and are ready to open
“Like businesses right across Northern Ireland, we have invested heavily in safety procedures including a massive reduction in customer numbers, social distancing throughout the building, additional hygiene measures and temperature checks for both staff and customers on arrival,” he said.
“In addition, all our auditoriums have high ceilings offering better air circulation and our customers generally are sitting quietly in an allocated, distanced seat and not chatting the way they would in a hospitality venue.
“We feel that there could be better understanding of how cinema has changed so dramatically and we invite politicians and civil servants to talk to us or to even come and look for themselves so they can make well-informed decisions.
“We understand that the Executive has had many difficult and complex decisions to make. We’ve responded and worked hard to make our venues safe and to offer a place for people to come in a socially distanced way. Cinemas in Northern Ireland employ hundreds of people, please don’t forget about us.”