Do you have to book in advance to go to the cinema now or just turn up as pre COVID?

[Toomuchtooyoung01]

Sorry I am probably posting in the wrong place but just wanted to know if anyone knows if you have to book in advance to go to the cinema now? DD wants to go and see Tom and Jerry!
Thanks!

I go to the cinema at least once a week.I would definitely book. When I went a few days go there were a number of families around.

I imagine you book in advance
Check online for the cinema you want to go to and it should tell you what to do

I've never turned up to a cinema without booking. Covid or no covid I just always assumed it might be sold out. I thought cinemas were like theatres and booking booking was just what you do!

I always booked pre covid anyway

Not sure so can't answer you exactly but we went to the cinema last week and it was packed.
Even if you can buy on the day I'd book in advance just because there's loads of rules regarding empty seats in between people etc so it would be a risk just turning up.

Ours is limited capacity so booking def recommended. But it’s years since I went to a cinema without booking. It was probably about 1998.

Our local cinema you could probably get away with just turning up as it has larger screens and plenty of seats. But I tried to book our local Odeon Luxe (big recliner seats, small screens, less seats) and couldn’t get three seats together as the online booking system says you need to keep a distance between others and it was impossible to book seats even when it looked like there were no seats booked around the ones I selected! So I wouldn’t risk just showing up.

Why not just book, either way

In normal times I don't bother booking, unless it's a hugely popular film just opening, or we've made a point of getting a babysitter.

But with Covid meaning limits on seat numbers, gaps between household bubbles etc I absolutely would book.

Took DS to the cinema a few days ago and we just bought the tickets there

Been this afternoon. I booked my seats online but our cinema is happy to have walk ins if there's space. People did pay to go in while we were there.

My local Odeon you can make a ticket purchase at the machine. But the newer one in the next town I'm not sure.

Thanks everyone for your replies, I have booked!