Reducing risk at QFT

These are past measures. For current measures please go to: https://queensfilmtheatre.com/blog/To-the-Cinema!-QFT-Reopens-Monday-24th-May. 

We’re as pleased as everyone else to hear there’s a vaccine not too far around the corner, but in the meantime, we must still behave responsibly to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in the cinema. This is a rundown of all we have done to reduce risk, and what your part is in ensuring we maintain our record of zero transmissions.

You might notice the cinema looks a little differently from your last visit. Here are the steps we have taken to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in the cinema:

Social distancing

We’ve carried out a full assessment of our space and will be implementing various measures to ensure there is a safe distance between household groups in the cinema.

We have removed most of our table and chairs in the foyer in order to reduce numbers in the foyer.

We have added floor markings to ensure social distancing is maintained in queues. We have a red queue to the box office, an emerald queue for our kiosk where you can buy or pick up your tickets, a popcorn yellow queue to the bar, and a mint queue for the bathrooms.

We have also reduced capacities and introduced a new dynamic form of seat allocation to ensure social distancing between booking parties within the screen.

Reduced capacity

We have reduced the capacity within our screens by blocking off every other row and introducing a new dynamic form of allocated seating. You can select your preferred seats online or in the cinema. When your booking is confirmed it will block off three seats on either side of your booking.

Please note: when booking online it will appear as if all seats are available, but the system will not let you proceed if you select a seat within 3 seats of an existing booking. If you have any trouble with selecting your seat, please get in touch on qftmanager@qub.ac.uk.

Staggered screening times

We’ll be staggering our screening times to ensure people can exit and enter the cinema without any build up of traffic in the cinema at any one time. This will also provide more time for thorough cleaning between screenings.

Hand sanitising stations

We’ve installed new hand sanitising stations in the cinema for our staff and customers.

Enhanced cleaning regime

We’re increasing our cleaning regime to ensure high touch points are regularly disinfected. We've extended the break between films in order to ensure the screens are clean thoroughly after each screening.

Staff practising good hand hygiene

In addition to our hand sanitising stations staff will also be mindful of practising good hand hygiene; washing their hands for at least 20 seconds in accordance with advice from the Public Health Authority.

Staff will be provided with PPE in accordance with PHA guidelines.

Here’s what you can do to help us out

Book online in advance

We are recommending everyone book online. Our capacities are much reduced so booking online should help prevent disappointment and will help us know full capacities in the cinema and allow us to participate in the NHS Test and Track scheme. If you would like to opt out of NHS Test and Trace you can email us on qftmanager@qub.ac.uk. You can still book in person at the cinema but demand is high and many screenings will sell out.

Please wear a face covering

We advise audience members wear face coverings in the foyer space and in the auditorium. Face coverings can be removed if consuming food or drink from the bar.

Pay using card or gift card in our venue

We won’t be accepting cash payments for the foreseeable. Please pay using credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or with a QFT gift card.

If visiting to purchase Gift Cards or Membership, we advise checking screening times

To ensure social distancing in the foyer, we recommend that if you are visiting to purchase a Gift Card or membership that you do this half an hour after the start of a screening in order to avoid the film queues. You can also purchase e-gift cards online.

Don't come if you're unwell

If you’re experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, please do not come to the cinema. We will be able to refund you if you contact us 48 hours prior to your screening, or we will be able to offer you an exchange beyond that point.

Follow social distancing guidelines

Please respect the social distancing measures we put in place throughout the cinema.

Practise good hand hygiene

Please make use of our hand sanitising stations and make sure to regularly wash your hands for at least 20 seconds in accordance with PHA guidelines.

We'll be reviewing our measures on a weekly basis to make sure we're responding to the best public health advice as well as our customers' needs. We will notify customers of any major changes.

The best way to keep up-to-date with our plans is to become a member, whether that’s a free QFT Community or LUMI membership or our classic QFT Member package.

If you have any questions, please check out our Re-opening FAQs or contact us on qftmanager@qub.ac.uk.