In the Varyáda shopping center in Karlovy Vary, the first multiplex in the Karlovy Vary Region began operations on Thursday, July 31. The six modernly equipped cinema halls from Premiere Cinemas (PC) offer a combined total of over 700 seats, and as PC owner David Horáček announced at the grand opening, the multiplex will offer up to 30 screenings daily.
The multiplex includes one VIP hall with a capacity of 27 seats. “The largest cinema hall offers up to 180 seats. The smallest, for VIP customers, has 27. Even in the largest hall, there are VIP seats, which are the last three rows. The VIP seats are electrically reclining, it’s a luxurious setup, and the VIP customer also has an unlimited supply of refreshments,” stated Horáček.
From its opening, the cinema is also offering new film releases, such as the Czech film *The Job*, the family comedy *The Bad Guys 2*, or the horror film *Return Her to Me*.
The cheapest ticket for an adult will cost 219 crowns. “A VIP ticket is 599 crowns. However, our visitors can get a 20-crown discount on every film if they purchase a customer card for 99 crowns, valid for one year. When purchasing a ticket online, there is an additional 10-crown discount,” added the multiplex director, Daniela Rautnerová, noting that a medium combo, which includes a medium popcorn and a 0.75-liter drink, costs 199 crowns.
“Each hall will have four to five screenings per day. On weekdays, we open after 1:00 PM, and at 10:00 AM on weekends. The last screening will be around 9:00 PM and will end around midnight,” specified owner Horáček.
The cinema’s operating hours thus differ from those of Varyáda itself, where all retail units currently close at 8:00 PM, with the exception of the Albert supermarket, which closes at 9:00 PM. “We know, however, that the food court closes a bit later. In the future, depending on public interest, we want to test whether to extend the hours; we anticipate closing at 9:00 PM,” noted Martin Malý, marketing director of EPG, the company that owns Varyáda. Cinema visitors will therefore leave through side entrances in the evening after the shopping center has closed.
According to Horáček, the Karlovy Vary multiplex will not yet collaborate with the film festival, but if the festival is interested, PC is open to negotiations about cooperation.
Karlovy Vary was the last regional capital where a multiplex has opened. Skeptics are not giving it much of a chance. “We are successful in other cities. For our operation to be profitable, attendance needs to be around 30 percent,” added owner Horáček.
According to director Malý, the opening of the multiplex is a way and an impetus for the people of Karlovy Vary to use Varyáda for their leisure activities. The reconstruction costs, which began last January, are approaching one billion crowns. It is scheduled to be completed in the autumn. “We are planning a grand opening for Saturday, October 18, for which we have already contracted an exclusive band that will play an hour-long concert here. It will be a big day, which will also feature a magician and a laser show,” Malý concluded.
ORIGINAL SOURCE: https://karlovarsky.denik.cz/zpravy_region/karlovy-vary-maji-sve-multikino-varyada-zprovoznila-sest-kinosalu-20250731.html