A RUBERY cinema is reminding customers it is open as usual during half-term despite the ongoing coronavirus restrictions - with a real Halloween scare-fest planned for film fans of all ages.

Leon Fairbank, general manager of Rubery's Empire Cinema on Great Park, contacted the Advertiser with worries that people might be unaware the facility was still open for business.

He said: "The cinema industry had been hit heavily during the coronavirus pandemic initially with enforced closures of cinemas and then movement of releases dates for key box office titles.

"This has led to a very large UK cinema operator, Cineworld, closing its doors altogether.

"The volume of media coverage this received in the UK has led to a large proportion of the population believing that all cinemas are closed."

Mr Fairbank was keen to stress Empire is open from 10.30am-8pm daily, with 27 different movies to choose from half-term.

For adults, their Halloween programme features horror hits like The Exorcist (Directors Cut), A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Shining, The Evil Dead (1981), IT, Saint Maud, Blumhouses’ The Craft.

For younger eyes, there are Goosebumps and Paranorman, Cats and Dogs: Paws Unite, 100% Wolf, Onward, Two by Two: Overboard, Dennis and Gnasher Unleashed!, The Secret Garden and Wolfwalkers,

"The cinema has introduced lots of initiatives to ensure we are Covid safe," added Mr Fairbank.

"We have hand sanitiser throughout the building, have reduced the capacity in all screens and our seating system will create protective bubbles around all bookings in the screen to ensure social distancing,.

"All team members must wear PPE, we have implemented regular routine cleaning of all frequently touched areas and high traffic areas and all customers are to wear face masks when in the cinema

"As a parent I know how difficult it is to understand what you are able to do and what is safe and I also know that parents are desperate to find things they can do with their children for the upcoming half-term."