Your experiences at the cinema since they reopened?

VincentHanna · 1 Sep 2020 at 15:33

AKA Odeon are crap at social distancing.

Twice I've been to my local Odeon since it opened again (Tenet and New Mutants) and both times were a bit farcical with the seating.

When you book, their system automatically blocks off 2 seat spaces either side of you, however they don't seem to do any distancing between the rows. Last night was particularly ridiculous.

We were in screen 7, which is one of the smaller ones. It has 90 standard seats and we had pre-booked using our limitless cards online, so chose our seats and at the time were the only people booked.

In total there were only 8 people in the screening.

We had 2 ladies directly in front of us and we had a family of 3 directly behind us. There was also a guy on his own on the other side of the aisle.

After it was apparent nobody else was coming in (just before the movie started) we moved to the other side of the aisle, at the back, away from people.

To make matters worse, nobody had masks on either other than us. I know Odeon can't be responsible for what people do, but why cluster us all together?

Cleisthenes · 1 Sep 2020 at 15:40

I had the same experience at my local Odeon. They put on the screen at the start that someone will come in at the end so not to leave immediately, this is so they can enforce social distancing on the way out. Yet, at the end, no one can in so everyone just filtered out as normal! Seem to be doing the bare minimum.

Local indy cinemas are doing a lot better so I've been told.

Begbie · 1 Sep 2020 at 15:41

Just don't go to the cinema? If you've been twice and weren't happy/don't feel safe then don't go back?

I went to see Tenet, and it was fine. The young lads working there did block the entrances, whilst trying to protect people, which was ironic. But it was fine really. It's a small enclosed space wtih A/C though so, it's as 'safe' as can be.

Werewolf · 1 Sep 2020 at 15:42

That sounds pretty bad.

However Odeon normally lets you choose your own seats out of what is available, so it's possible they chose their seats after you picked yours, presumably you had seats in the middle of the row for the best view? (which are the ones that tend to go first in my experience).

Personally I've no intention of going back to the cinema until there is a vaccine, as the risk for me is just too high.

VincentHanna · 1 Sep 2020 at 15:45

This screen is small and has a centre isle, with 5 rows of standard seats either side.

We booked seats that are next to the aisle for a more centralised seating position, plus my wife likes to be near an aisle as she has IBS

stoofa · 1 Sep 2020 at 15:48

Only been the once, last weekend to see Tenet.
Cineworld - so apparent socially distanced seating (they claim you cannot book seats next to others, whereas this is true left/right it is not true forwards/backwards).
Masks required everywhere - although their social media team have indicated they won't bother enforcing and a lot of Karen's on social media say they will go out of their way to not wear one.

Actual experience.
Seats booked for the middle of the very back row - eliminating the possibility of someone breathing down my neck for the entire film.
Also booked for the first showing of the day - my feeling, the selfish non-mask wearers don't get up until later.
10 people were in the screen, 5 groups of 2. Two of the other groups had the same idea as me and had booked back row - but there were at least two empty seats between the three groups. The other two pairs dotted around further forward.
All 10 people wore masks as they entered the screen and certainly nobody on the back row removed theirs.
After the film we were shown out for the fire exit rather than having to go out through the foyer - obviously a good thing.

So I felt as safe as I could do going.
I am only going to new films, I know cinema at the moment is showing a lot of "old classics" but I am only there for the new ones.
I'm still on an Unlimited membership which was extended FOC for 3 months - so if I arrive and find the Karen brigade not in masks I'll just up & leave. Undecided if I'm renewing at the moment.

Steeps · 1 Sep 2020 at 16:31

Been 3 times so far to 3 different cinemas. All 3 times (Shawshank, Inception, Tenet) the screens have been so empty there's been enough to have spare rows between groups. Got no problem with sticking with quieter showings as I usually only book 30mins before the showing to see how busy it is.

Raymond Lin · 1 Sep 2020 at 16:35

There was a recent case that someone went into a cafe in Seoul, he/she sat down for 2hrs and within that 2 hrs this person infected 56 other people in the cafe, some even upstairs through air-conditioning. The staff working there did not get infected though...so wear masks.

Make that what you will, I think if you are going to catch it, sitting in an enclosed space for 2hrs, no amount of social distancing and these 2m empty seats practices are just nothing more than symbolic unless you wear a mask.

https://www.businessinsider.com/56-...arbucks-mask-wearers-did-not-2020-8?r=US&IR=T

ElliorR · 1 Sep 2020 at 20:41

I went to my local odeon on Saturday for Tenet and fortunately, just before the lockdown, all screens were converted to Luxe Recliners so no issue with distancing behind and in front.

I’ll go and see a The New Mutants when I have next week off work.

Glanza · 2 Sep 2020 at 15:45

Cineworld was good, distancing setup closed certain kiosks to keep social distancing, done the same with toilets and only allow a certain number of people in. When you book seats they leave 2 seat gap either side of you. Masks at all times (unless eating food then it's to go back on)

Shadowness · 2 Sep 2020 at 16:18

We were going to go to the cinema last weekend, until the point I saw it was £36 for the two of us!

(Imax Cineworld in Cheltenham). Even the standard 2D viewing was about £30 or so. Bugger that!

Did the prices rocket up since covid?

explicit4u · 2 Sep 2020 at 16:32

A bit of a mixed bag at my odeon when I saw Tenet on Monday. Staff all wearing masks and gloves, one way systems being enforced and all the toilet doors were wedged open.

We got the little clip about social distancing and remaining seated at the end. There was only 6 of us in the screening and the layout meant it was easy to keep apart (few rows but lots of seats per row). There was no staff at the end and after a few awkward minutes everyone got up and left in one group. I'd happily return if the numbers remain low and I don't really have any issues with people not wearing masks at that particular screen.

jsmoke · 2 Sep 2020 at 16:45

Boo boo.

Kyo · 2 Sep 2020 at 21:01

Werewolf said:
Personally I've no intention of going back to the cinema until there is a vaccine, as the risk for me is just too high.

Same, I have a Cineworld unlimited card but won't be going back. I would very much like to but not worth it.

Jokester · 3 Sep 2020 at 08:06

Cineworld block off alternative rows completely, it doesn’t show them at all on the booking screen.

Watched Tenet last week and had no concerns at all.

marc2003 · 3 Sep 2020 at 08:21

Shadowness said:
We were going to go to the cinema last weekend, until the point I saw it was £36 for the two of us!

(Imax Cineworld in Cheltenham). Even the standard 2D viewing was about £30 or so. Bugger that!

Did the prices rocket up since covid?

Nope, Cheltenham has always been expensive compared to some of the prices I've seen others post on here but it hasn't really changed in years. I paid £15.55 to see Tenet on their dinky little IMAX on opening day and smaller screens were around a tenner. I'm used to paying 17 odd quid for the IMAX but it's a little cheaper because it's only 2D.

I guess your price quotes were bumped for the weekend which are always a little more than weekdays. I'm sure that would have been the case pre-lockdown too.

stoofa · 3 Sep 2020 at 10:00

Jokester said:
Cineworld block off alternative rows completely, it doesn’t show them at all on the booking screen.

Watched Tenet last week and had no concerns at all.

Would be good if they did - certainly not the case at a lot of their newer cinemas. Plenty of pictures from inside the screens where people have been sat directly in front or behind others.
Distanced left/right - if you try and leave less than a 2 seat gap it fails the booking, but you can book seats directly behind others in a lot of their screens - their claim that you're 1m away from that person.

Jokester · 3 Sep 2020 at 10:45

stoofa said:
Would be good if they did - certainly not the case at a lot of their newer cinemas. Plenty of pictures from inside the screens where people have been sat directly in front or behind others.
Distanced left/right - if you try and leave less than a 2 seat gap it fails the booking, but you can book seats directly behind others in a lot of their screens - their claim that you're 1m away from that person.

I think that’s more to do with people not sitting where they’re supposed to sit, eg I book the 2nd row and sit in the 2nd row directly behind someone, but my ticket will actually say the 3rd row, the booking screen has alternative rows completely removed.

marc2003 · 3 Sep 2020 at 10:52

Jokester said:
I think that’s more to do with people not sitting where they’re supposed to sit, eg I book the 2nd row and sit in the 2nd row directly behind someone, but my ticket will actually say the 3rd row, the booking screen has alternative rows completely removed.

Seems dependent on location. Aberdeen vs Cheltenham...

Scam · 3 Sep 2020 at 11:09

Raymond Lin said:
There was a recent case that someone went into a cafe in Seoul, he/she sat down for 2hrs and within that 2 hrs this person infected 56 other people in the cafe, some even upstairs through air-conditioning. The staff working there did not get infected though...so wear masks.

That is legitimately scary stuff. Thanks for raising my anxiety levels!

Wear a mask ffs!