CINEWORLD in Warrington looks set to close due to the coronavirus crisis – less than a year after it launched in Time Square.
The chain is reportedly shutting all of its cinemas for an undetermined period with the James Bond film, No Time To Die, being delayed until April described as the 'final straw'.
The closures were first reported by The Sunday Times following Friday’s bombshell Bond announcement, putting up to 5,500 jobs at risk.
But it is understood that the cinemas could reopen in 2021 when there are signs of recovery from the pandemic.
Cineworld is the UK's biggest cinema operator and was described as the 'anchor' for Warrington's troubled £142.5million Time Square development.
The front page of tomorrow’s Times is announcing that Cineworld is planning to close all of its cinemas across the country as soon as this week putting all of our jobs at immediate risk. There has been no consultation with staff whatsoever. pic.twitter.com/16fKxGcNnG
— Cineworld Action Group (@cineactiongroup) October 3, 2020
It opened on December 11, just months before the Covid-19 era made its stark impact on box office figures.
Under the current tightened Warrington restrictions, people cannot go to the cinema with people from outside of their household.
Cineworld is understood to be writing to Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden this weekend to explain that the exhibition sector is 'unviable' due to studios delaying major films as a result of the pandemic.
The decision also comes in the wake of a lacklustre performance for Christopher Nolan's Tenet and Disney's decision to move its big release, Mulan, to its at-home digital service, Disney+.
READ MORE > What going to the cinema is like while wearing a mask and social distancing
Cineworld Action Group, a collective of employees supported by entertainment union Bectu, tweeted yesterday, Saturday, that 'there has been no consultation with staff whatsoever'.
Cineworld in Time Square was Warrington's first town centre in more than 25 years after the closure of Odeon in Buttermarket Street.
It is the chain's 101st cinema and saw major investment at the time with 13 screens and a 16.2m by 8.9m laser projection 'Superscreen' featuring multidimensional sound powered by 32 Dolby Atmos speakers on the walls and ceiling as well as reclining seats and extra legroom.
It closed during the national lockdown in March but reopened on July 31.
Cineworld Warrington has been approached for comment.
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