LEISURE giants have announced plans to re-open across south Essex.

Cinema chain Cineworld and bowling firm Hollywood Bowl have announced they will return in early July.

The firms both have bases at Festival Leisure Park in Basildon, with the bowling alley set to re-open on July 4, and Cineworld on July 10.

Both businesses have brought in a host of social distancing and sanitary measures to keep the premises clean and their customers safe.

In Cineworld, all employee and customer toilets will be stocked with anti-bacterial hand soap, with hand sanitizer stations across the premises for customers and staff.

Additional cleaning will take place, with staggered film times to ensure fewer customers cross paths, and to allow cleaning time between films.

Echo:

Preparation - In Hollywood Bowl, the bowling lanes will have spaces between them

In Hollywood Bowl, the bowling lanes will have spaces between them, with amusement arcades spaced out, and the entire premises will have a limited capacity at any one time, along with enhanced cleaning measures.

Stephen Burns, chief executive at Hollywood Bowl Group, said: “The health and safety of our customers and team remains our priority.

“Whether it’s to bowl, enjoy the amusement areas, have a bite to eat or something to drink, we want to assure our customers that we are doing everything we can to create a safe and fun experience for families to return to.

“We look forward to welcoming them back through our doors very soon.”

Matthew Chambers, centre manager at Festival Leisure Park, said: “It has been incredibly encouraging to see the positive reception for the collection and delivery services restaurants have been offering.

“To be able to welcome customers back to the cinema in July is really good news, and in the meantime, we are busy installing the necessary safety measures across the park.”

Adventure Island bosses in Southend are also planning to re-open on July 4 with more training for staff, increased hand sanitiser stations and surface cleaning.

Elsewhere, Barleylands Farm Park in Billericay has re-opened this week for members only, and plans to open for everyone by the end of the week.

Meanwhile, when swim centres open, swimmers have also been told they will have to arrive in their swimming costumes, and avoid strokes like butterfly to prevent the spread.