Harrogate Odeon says 'book your tickets now' for reopening of cinema

The Odeon at East Parade, Harrogate's famous art deco cinema, says it has introduced major changes to create a new safer cinema experience for visitors when it reopens on Thursday, July 16.

The first day will see a variety of popular films screened at Harrogate Odeon throughout the day, from recent bos office hits to all-time classics.

Harrogate Odeon: Thursday, July 16

15:00/19:30 Star Wars episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

16:00/17:00 2d Onward

19:00 2d 1917

20:00 La la Land

17:45 Bloodshot

16:30 Sonic The Hedgehog

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Cinema reopen: What Harrogate Film Festival said

Harrogate Film Festival's managing director Adam Chandler said about the reopening of cinemas: "It's a positive step that places like cinemas can reopen safely, the industry will be delighted that they can begin to welcome people again.

"Hopefully, film fans will now be able to see some of the year's biggest blockbusters and I myself, as a lover of film, will be booking my tickets - I've missed the cinema

"I think social distancing will work, I'm not an expert in it but cinemas can be socially distanced, it just depends if as many screenings are viable for the organisation.

"It's great news as well for Harrogate Film Festival, we're deep into programming for the March 2021 Festival and it's a great early step for us that we might be able to hold some events in our local cinemas, as usual."

Cinema reopen: What Harrogate Film Society said

Henry Thompson, producer at Harrogate independent film company Growler Films a and member of Harrogate Film Society committee, said: "The re-opening of cinemas from July will, of course be good news for those whose work and income depend directly or indirectly on this resumption after the lockdown.

"Harrogate Film Society along with all community cinemas, are really pleased at the prospect of re-starting operations.

"During the lockdown, a sub-group from the Harrogate Film Society committee have been working hard on an exciting new programme of screenings for 2020-21 - details will be on the website soon!

"The lockdown has been a mixed blessing for me personally.

"Pre-production work this summer in Vancouver on a Growler Films feature has had to be postponed and pushed back to 2021 which is a disappointment.

"On the plus side, the confinement has allowed myself and three colleagues to work on the edit of a documentary that we shot at Harrogate Film Festival in March, featuring legendary music documentary filmmaker Tony Palmer.

"The event itself was conceived jointly by Graham Chalmers at the Harrogate Advertiser and Harrogate Film Society's Brian Madden.

"The film society made a financial contribution to the filming- highlighting how HFS does not just see itself as a passive exhibitor but an active supporter of film as a device for community engagement."

The Everyman cinema in Harrogate is also expected to reopen in July, though date has been announced yet.

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