“We’re Back!” says Nu Metro

Most of Nu Metro Cinemas flagship cinema complexes will reopen on August 28, after not being able to operate for the past five months due to lockdown regulations and other risk-based precautions during the pandemic. 

“Nu Metro is very excited to go ‘big’ again with the magic of the movies. Nothing can replace the cinematic experience of enjoying movies in the way they were meant to be seen.

“Our commitment and responsibility towards customers have never been stronger as we face this ‘new normal’ together. Public’s safety, as well as the safety and health of our team members, is our highest priority.

“Nu Metro has been anxiously anticipating this moment to reopen our doors to movie fans once again, as part of a coordinated industry effort to restart this business we love to call showbiz. See you at the movies!” said Chantelle Burrows, marketing and content executive from Nu Metro Cinemas.

Those cinemas not opening on August 28 will be reopened in the near future; they remain temporarily closed as part of Nu Metro’s responsible reopening strategy. 

In line with Nu Metro’s commitment to ensuring the health and safety of customers and staff, cinemas will initially only be open to the public from Friday to Sunday (and public holidays), with limited showtimes per day and some films being screened over multiple screens with staggered time slots per complex. 

Based on level two lockdown regulations, the scheduling of films is planned in such a way to ensure adherence to the current 10pm curfew and to effectively support measures to enable social distancing, avoid over-crowding in foyers and limit capacities per cinema. 

Director Christopher Nolan’s much-anticipated Tenet will be the first major new movie scheduled for cinemas’ reopening. 

Some of the key health and safety protocols being implemented in Nu Metro’s cinemas are:

• Online bookings are encouraged through Nu Metro’s website (numetro.co.za) prior to customers visiting cinemas.

• At cinemas, purchases can be made at the self-service terminals, box office and confectionery/catering counters with the required safety precautions.

• Contactless tap and go payment facilities are also available in cinemas. 

• Mask-wearing will be mandatory for all customers and staff within all Nu Metro cinema complexes nationwide. Masks can only be taken off while eating or drinking. 

• Temperature checks will be done on arrival for all customers at access points to cinema complexes. This is in addition to hourly temperature and hygiene check-ups being done on staff by each complex’s appointed compliance officer. 

• Nu Metro is enabling social distancing by introducing at least 1.5m of distance between booked seats. This measure has been introduced by blocking two ‘buffer’ seats on either side of a customer’s selection. Such blocked seats appear in a zigzag pattern throughout each auditorium. Only two customers per booking can be seated next to each other, with ‘buffer’ seats blocked on either side, in front of and behind them. 

• In this manner, cinema capacity is also capped at below 50 visitors, in compliance with the recommended specifications from government. 

• Floor decals and other communications in cinemas will manage the same social distancing measures in cinema foyers. 

• The stagger-time between shows has been increased to limit the number of guests in foyers at the same time. 

• Appointed compliance offices and cinema staff will further support standard access control and crowd management measures in this regard. 

• Customers will have direct access to hand sanitiser at cinema access points and 70-80 per cent of all other areas in each of Nu Metro’s reopened complexes nationwide. Customers are encouraged to sanitise regularly through various in-cinema messages. 

• All cinemas will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before and after each and every show, along with a nightly deep-cleaning of all complexes. 

• All high-touch point areas, such as kiosks, self-service terminals, serving counters, door handles, rails, benches, booths and bathroom areas, will be disinfected on a regular basis daily – with the cleaning frequency for service counters every 30 minutes. 

• All Nu Metro staff have been retrained in effective and frequent hand-washing – targeting fronts, backs, wrists and between fingers – with soap and water for at least 20 seconds every time. 

• Popcorn seasoning shakers/dispensers have been replaced by sealed, disposable sachets, along with other precautionary measures at confectionery/catering counters. 

For all public queries, please contact the national Nu Metro customer service centre on 0861 246 362 or at helpdesk@numetro.co.za 

View movie line-ups, posters and trailers at numetro.co.za (please note that published release dates are subject to change).

Bookings are open. 

You can also follow @numetro on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.