UGC vs Savoy

nachos

now, i don't know if this has been in a thread before, but I've been having a debate with me mates as to which is the better cinema, ugc or savoy.

here's the arguments:

UGC:

Loads of cinemas showing lots of different pictures, the screens are pretty big plus it's reasonably cheap. however, the food in there is super pricy, it's always packed and a seat can't always be had and also, there's not much of a "buzz" there.

Savoy:[\U]

The main screen is HUGE, there's always a great laugh there. brings back memories of days gone by and is a dublin institution. buuttt.... the other screens don't really count and there's usually crowds of 14 year old kids with adidas tracksuits and nike caps.

what's your opinion? throw in your 2 cent(s). i DARE ya.

skipn_easy

Its got to be UGC. Great prices - 3 euro for students with vouchers and student prices are available any time of the week. Unlimited cards which are worth their weight in gold.

Cool building, nice bar, loads of screens showing all types of films so everyone can find something they want to watch. Really comfy seats, loads of toilets, escalators

The only problem I have with UGC and this has been putting me off going there recently is that the queues for tickets can be so long But I never bother going to any of the other cinemas anymore so UGC always wins.

Third_Echelon

yeah definitely UGC every time for me.. i got the unlimited card which is really good value for money... €16 per month is pretty good...

nice and comfy.. good seats... food is a bit pricey if you are buying loads, but i rarely get more than a drink....

cafe/bar is nice... good place to relax and see movie at the same time...

the queues can be a bit long at times but they are usually pretty quick at moving...

the longest ive been in a queue is 15 mins.. and that was back as far as the bottom of the escalators...

its what dublin had been lacking for years....

leonotron

One word and two syllables for you guys, Ster Century

User45701

UGC all the way, bar and the best screans and seating.

I love screan 17, UGC has 4 levels
Level 1 = ticket office
Level 2 = A few screans
Level 3 = Many screans
Level 4 = Screan 17, A whole floor for 1 screan, that means 16 screans on 3 floors.
God i love screan 17.

Also UGC beats star centuray because the UGC unlimited card see a ulimited ammount of filims for 16 euro a month. in other words see to movies and see as many other movies as you want free.

Third_Echelon

Originally posted by leonotron
One word and two syllables for you guys, Ster Century

ster century is good.. but in my opinion ugc is a lot nicer cinema....

lodgepole

UGC has really raised the bar for cinemas in this country. It's head and shoulders above any competition... Though it is pricey... As a student I can go for €6 or €3 with another student, but non students have a heftier fee. Food is expensive and not the best (though you can of course bring in your own)... The most damaging is the car park though. UCI may be the filthiest scum pit of a cinema out there but they do have free parking.

I wouldnt really go to UGC at night because of the crowds, early evening or during the day there's no problem.

I love the Savoy, but it just can't compare. Especially after this years Lord of the Rings fiasco.

nachos

what fiasco?

Tusky

Its 8.50 into UGC ! not good prices...how do you get in for 3 euro exactly ? I must get a student card !

lodgepole

Originally posted by nachos
what fiasco?

Allowing a queue to form of about 200 people before bringing out a sign saying "Ticket Holders Left, Non Ticket Holders Right. Screen One Sold Out". Pretty much everyone in the queue on the left were queuing to buy tickets for Screen One. I felt it was completely irresponsible of them not to erect a sign as soon as either a) there was an employee present (and there had been for at least an hour) or b) whenever the tickets sold out (over the phone I presume). I also felt that given that there had been something of a tradition of queuing for Screen One in the Savoy to see the Lord of the Rings films it couldn't possibly have hurt to hang onto 100 or so tickets for those who made the effort. But leaving it so long to tell people really pissed me off, especially given that UGC was only around the corner.

lodgepole

Originally posted by Tusky
Its 8.50 into UGC ! not good prices...how do you get in for 3 euro exactly ? I must get a student card !

Student price is €6 and there's a voucher at www.studentpages.com that gets two students in for the price of one.

LoLth

Originally posted by leonotron
One word and two syllables for you guys, Ster Century

That's one word + 3 syllables unless your a scobe and you pronounce is "stare sentry". Stop looking at TV and go read a book
I like UGC, Savoy one is nice but they have really let the rest go to the dogs. UGC screen 17 seems to be curved (like the IMAX it originally housed though not as much) which , even though it is slightly smaller than Savoy 1 , gives you an excellent view from wherever you are in the cinema. Seats are more comfortable too and you dont get pissed off at the little knacker kicking the seat at the other end of the row and forcing you to nausea as the wave hits.

so, UGC 17 is as good as savoy 1 imho.
The secondary screens are better.
UGC has a bar (expensive but at least it has one).
UGC doesnt look crap inside / upstairs. though whether it stays like that remains to be seen.

SteM

The UGC card and the 17 screens alone mean UGC would have to win although I do like Savoy 1 for the first viewing of a big movie.

I've not been to the UGC in quite a while though - I'm sick of hearing people talk during movies and their phones going off drive me mad too. I'd almost prefer to watch a DVD at home with a decent surround sound setup now.

Pigman II

Savoy is kinda like Lansdowne Road. Sure it has tradition, quaint charm and lots of fond memories but at the end of the day it's still basically a kip.

smiaras

This post has been deleted.

ixoy

Originally posted by LoLth
That's one word + 3 syllables unless your a scobe and you pronounce is "stare sentry". Stop looking at TV and go read a book

And there was me thinking it was actually TWO words and three syllables
It's UGC without a doubt. I can't understand why people talk about it being expensive when, with the UGC Unlimited Card, it's easily the cheapest if you see movies regularly. The Savoy is delapidated, dirty, rundown. So the two big screens are comfortable enough, but the aroma of knacker still stinks the place up. Not only that the UGC's snacks shop makes Savoy's snack shop its bitch and then merrily throws alcohol over it, setting it alight with its bar.
It surpasses the Savoy in every single wayand I've been going there regularly (roughly 1-2 times a week) for the past two years. It's not even a competition and, given the responses so far, it seems people agree with me.

Buck Owens

The Savoy is great mainly for screen 1, but the other screens are a bit Like The Mini Cinema's you see on Cribs.

I love the UGC, It's really what Dublin city needs, great variety of films, Infernal affairs and the happniess of KataKuris, or however the Hell you spell it!!
I hav'nt seen anything in screen 17, What's it like screen and seat wise, Bigger than Savoy screen 1?



Nothing new really!

Retr0gamer

If its in screen one I'd go see it in the savoy. If not I'll get my student price tickets in UGC. However the elevated levels of skanger in UGC is a bit off putting.

rde

I'd have to opt for UGC, albeit with reservations (or, more specifically, without reservations. See below).

The UGC has its seventeen screens, which means they can show more esoteric films; they recently showed Fulltime Killer and Infernal Affairs (Chinese) and Zatoichi (Japanese). I've an unlimited card, and the ability to go in the mornings, so crowds aren't a problem. They've got an email list, which is very handy. However, €1.90 for a half-litre of water?

Then there's the matter of the Unlimited card. This isn't actually run by UGC; you don't find this out until there's a problem and you're turned away from the cinema with some asinine phrase as 'sorry, our hands our tied'. Then there's the fact that you can't book films. I can see their point; if anyone could book a film and not turn up, there's be lots of people doing just that, having booked on the off-chance that they'd be available. Not good for business. However, it means if you want to watch a popular film in the first week or so, you've got to queue for ages. Being the proud owner of a credit card, I'm not impressed by this. I saw Lord of the Rings in the Savoy.

SteM

Originally posted by rde
.......Then there's the fact that you can't book films. I can see their point; if anyone could book a film and not turn up, there's be lots of people doing just that, having booked on the off-chance that they'd be available. Not good for business. However, it means if you want to watch a popular film in the first week or so, you've got to queue for ages. Being the proud owner of a credit card, I'm not impressed by this. I saw Lord of the Rings in the Savoy.

UGC in the UK have a clever way around this. You can book ahead over the internet or phone if you have an Unlimited card but you have to pay a booking fee (I think it's about 70p per ticket?). Later you can go up to the machines in the cinema, put in your unlimited card and pick your ticket up, no queuing. I guess UGC's thinking on this is most people won't bother to book and pay unless they are going to turn up. I'd love to see them start something like that up here.

UGC in West India Quay in London is amazing by the way. Not a huge cinema, about the size of Dublin or a bit smaller I'd say, but the leg room in most of the screens is brilliant.

projectmayhem

what do you mean by "you can't book films in the UGC"? i always book my tickets there for new films. i did it for the two matrix sequels, LOTR and i have my kill bill 2 ticket for thursday....

SteM

Originally posted by projectmayhem
what do you mean by "you can't book films in the UGC"? i always book my tickets there for new films. i did it for the two matrix sequels, LOTR and i have my kill bill 2 ticket for thursday....

You can't book in advance with your UGC Unlimited card, only with a credit card.

Zoton

UGC wins cos they only show a couiple of ads unlike every other cinema in this country where ya have to sity through 10 - 15 mins of crappy adverts, before you even get to the trailers.:mad:

Johnny Versace

Originally posted by Zoton
UGC wins cos they only show a couiple of ads unlike every other cinema in this country where ya have to sity through 10 - 15 mins of crappy adverts, before you even get to the trailers.:mad:

This is a pet hate of mine.

I go to the cinema, pay around 8 EUROs for a ticket, and then I'm forced to watch adverts.

I don't mind watching trailers for other movies, but adverts for coke, perfume, beer etc., it's not what I payed for.

Stark

Originally posted by LoLth
That's one word + 3 syllables unless your a scobe and you pronounce is "stare sentry". Stop looking at TV and go read a book

Pedantic has 3 syllables by the way.

I like UGC, it's far more modern.

ixoy

Originally posted by SteM
UGC in the UK have a clever way around this. You can book ahead over the internet or phone if you have an Unlimited card but you have to pay a booking fee (I think it's about 70p per ticket?). Later you can go up to the machines in the cinema, put in your unlimited card and pick your ticket up, no queuing. I guess UGC's thinking on this is most people won't bother to book and pay unless they are going to turn up. I'd love to see them start something like that up here.

I asked them about this ages ago. They said they had no plans to bring it in. They probably figure the refurbishment alone is enough. I still don't understand why they don't use the machines for UGC Unlimited Card holders though - it would cut down on queuing and staffing costs. It's surely in their interest.

earwicker

[pedantry] "Ster Century" is actually two words with four syllables. Just saying. [/pedantry]

Memnoch

Originally posted by ixoy
I asked them about this ages ago. They said they had no plans to bring it in. They probably figure the refurbishment alone is enough. I still don't understand why they don't use the machines for UGC Unlimited Card holders though - it would cut down on queuing and staffing costs. It's surely in their interest.

its not in their intersts cause most people who book over the internet will pay the full 8 euro fee for the tickets. + booking fee.

the unlimited card holders will see the film anyways, even if they can't get the first show.

So basically they r trying to make as much money as they can from the more popular packed initial showings of popular films that are hard to get tickets for.

yes they are screwing over their card holding customers, but thats a secondry concern really

Pepe LeFrits

Savoy screen 1 for all the big blockbusters.

Otherwise, i just go to the ormonde. Local and dirt cheap with student price & 2 for 1 vouchers.

UGC? whats that?

RE*AC*TOR

Have to rank them in this order:-

1. Ster
2. Virgin/IMAX hybrid
3. Savoy

The seats are really comfy in ster - like big armchairs - all the screens are really big and there's loads of leg room. I used to like the virgin when they had the front row with the bar in front and you could put you legs up. The savoy is a one screen pony - and in such I wouldn't waste my time considering it. In fact if I was 100% honest - 3 and 4 would be IFI and Screen - then Savoy.

ronano

Originally posted by Lodgepole
UGC has really raised the bar for cinemas in this country. It's head and shoulders above any competition... Though it is pricey... As a student I can go for €6 or €3 with another student, but non students have a heftier fee. Food is expensive and not the best (though you can of course bring in your own)... The most damaging is the car park though. UCI may be the filthiest scum pit of a cinema out there but they do have free parking.

I wouldnt really go to UGC at night because of the crowds, early evening or during the day there's no problem.

I love the Savoy, but it just can't compare. Especially after this years Lord of the Rings fiasco.

Have you ever seen the tailback for trying to get out of the uci coolock on a weekend night, you'e waiting forever, i worked there back in the day and the place is a kip but being the only cinema in the area and it's location it makes the big bucks. I prefer the ugc and shall have to reinvest in a ugc card( i stopped paying it cos i had no bling and i got aletter in the post saying i can have it bk if i start paying from now on which is nice)

DaithiSurfer

Originally posted by SteM
I've not been to the UGC in quite a while though - I'm sick of hearing people talk during movies and their phones going off drive me mad too. I'd almost prefer to watch a DVD at home with a decent surround sound setup now.

Ditto.
The new UGC is fantastic but i rarely go know because of the hoopy earing brigade talking and laughing mobile phones.
They really need to sort that. Its so off putting you cant enjoy a movie.

ronano

Originally posted by DaithiSurfer
Ditto.
The new UGC is fantastic but i rarely go know because of the hoopy earing brigade talking and laughing mobile phones.
They really need to sort that. Its so off putting you cant enjoy a movie.

I know, i think they need to put even just either one more security guard or staff member dedicated to keeping them in order. Personally i just plain tell them to keep it down and if they answer back in a cheeky manner i plain just go screw this and get them thrown out by security. I go to the cinema to relax i don't need someone annoying me.

Kersh

Its got to be UGC. Ihave had rocks thrown at my car in Clondalkin, so the safe car park in town is better.

Chinafoot

i have to say when it comes to the UGC V SAVOY debate.....i compromise.

Savoy (screen 1) for the big movies like the lord of the rings trilogy etc

UGC for a weekly movie witha few pints after before heading out to a pub.

lovely!