Vue set to close 21 cinemas for three days a week – Here is how it affects Hartlepool

From next week, Vue cinemas will have reduced opening hours to four days a week at 21 of its 87 UK sites, keeping them shut on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

However, it appears that Hartlepool’s Vue cinema will not be affected by the decision as of yet, with the site sticking to its current opening hours.

The move comes after rival chain Cineworld announced that it will temporarily close 127 Cineworld and Picturehouse sites in the UK following blockbuster films delaying release dates due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

A Vue spokesperson said: “We remain committed to ensuring that Vue has a long-term future, to protecting the livelihoods of our staff and keeping our doors open to ensure our cinemas continue to serve the communities they operate in.

“However, from next week, we will be temporarily reducing our opening days to Friday-Monday at 21 out of our 87 UK sites to ensure that our business is financially well-placed to withstand the uncertainty ahead.

“Our belief in the future of this industry is unshaken. We came into this pandemic in a very strong position after a record 2019 and a record start to 2020, and we are looking forward to returning to full steam as soon as Hollywood studios start releasing the content which audiences are clamouring for.”

The chief executive of Vue Cinemas, Tim Richards, said on Monday, October 5 that cinema chains were dealt a “body blow” by the delay to the next James Bond film, No Time To Die.

He commented: “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.”

Rival chain Odeon has also confirmed that about 30 of its 120 cinema sites will shut from Monday to Thursday after audience figures have been slow to recover following the pandemic.

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