Bringing own food into cinema

Monkey61 · 18-01-2008 01:47PM #1

After four years of bringing my own food into Cineworld in Dublin, I thought this was pretty much the norm if you didn't want to pay the exorbitante prices.
I recall UCI in Tallaght back in the nineties having signs up saying you couldn't bring your own food in, but they didn't last long. Also recall soemone telling me that cinemas aren't allowed to say that anyway.

So basically i have just moved to London, where not only does Cineworld have signs up saying that you can't bring in your own food! But they have also taken to searching people's bags on the way in to make sure that you don't have your own food! WTF!

I was carrying a plastic bag in the other week and was asked what was in it.I said clothes...which it clearly was from the shape and bulkiness of it. And he insisted on looking through it anyway to make sure I hadn't hidden any food inside.

Has cineworld in Dublin started this too or is it just the English feckers?

Agent Smith · 18-01-2008 01:49PM

this is just the start! next thing you know pubs will Make you Buy your beer there!

Jack Sheehan · 18-01-2008 01:50PM

Well a couple of months ago I brought an entire apache pizza into the Ormone in Stillorgan and no one batted an eyelid. Probably just the English getting you down etc etc etc.

Mitch Connor · 18-01-2008 01:51PM

I would ask them to get a cop to check my bag, as they (cineworld) have no legal right to do so.

Full_Circle · 18-01-2008 02:17PM

Jebus, thats shocking! :eek: I would have thought they'd have no right to go through your bag. What if (for example) you'd picked up some groceries before heading to the cinema?? As long as you've paid for the ticket, I dont see how they could possibly object to food being brought in.

I ALWAYS bring my own food to the cinema, partly because the price they charge for food in cinemas is criminal, but also because some places (and I thinking of the Vue in Liffey Valley in particular) have a terrible selection of sweets to choose from! What if I dont want to buy a GIANT tub of Malteasers or Revels or M&Ms. What then??

The only time I wouldnt object to my bag being searched is by a security guard in a shop if the alarm goes off when you leave or if your going to a concert to check if you are concealing a weapon or some sort (although I still find THAT quite offensive......).

junior_apollo · 18-01-2008 02:26PM

I have worked in the cinema business for about 3 yrs and it is ILLEGAL for them to refuse entry because you have brought in your own food...

Regardless of what their signage says they cannot stop you...

I would NOT allow them to search my bag... the only grounds for searching that should be allowed would be for drugs/weapons and this MUST be performed by a guard/police-person... not by a member of staff as they have no legal right to check your bags/belongings...

If they ask to check your bags tell them that they have no legal right and if they insist then TELL them that you want a legal reason for this check and to get a police-person to do this check

Shenanigans i tell ya!...:eek:

monkey tennis · 18-01-2008 02:28PM

Tauren wrote: »

I would ask them to get a cop to check my bag, as they (cineworld) have no legal right to do so.

Well, they do if you've given them permission, and they probably have the right to refuse you entry if you don't give them permission

junior_apollo · 18-01-2008 02:55PM

monkey tennis wrote: »

Well, they do if you've given them permission, and they probably have the right to refuse you entry if you don't give them permission

Yes correct... if you've given them permission then they can search you without any repercussions...

They can refuse you entry because you do not give permission to be searched...

BUT if you allow permission on the basis that a law official performs the search it is then THEIR duty to either allow you entry or to request an officer to come and perform the search...

BlitzKrieg · 18-01-2008 03:06PM

good thing cineworld here dont search bags, I was on my way home from work and I had one of my video cameras (a decent size vx2000 not a small camcorder) in my backpack and some friends asked me to join them in seeing 300, didnt have time to go home so I went into the cinema with the bag and only remembered 3 minutes before the film started that I had the camera.

On the topic, I would kill Cineworld if they start refusing food to be brought in, I just recently had a medical scare and cant eat sweets or drink fizzy drinks, So I bring fruit (usually grapes or oranges) and water/juice drink to the cinema. They'd lose me as a customer bloody quick if I wasnt allowed to bring them into the screen.

On a a buisness front, why dont they turn one of the soft drink fountains into one to serve dilute like miwadi or robinsons rather then coke, it would give them alot more profit then the small bottles they sell and it would help people like me who at the moment cant drink soft drinks.

Full_Circle · 18-01-2008 03:07PM

monkey tennis wrote: »

Well, they do if you've given them permission, and they probably have the right to refuse you entry if you don't give them permission

But shouldnt the purchase of an highly overly priced ticket be all you need to gain entrance to a film??? I mean, if they start searching you bag, whats next...........deep cavity searches? :eek: *runs away at the sound of rubber gloves being snapped on*

And even if food was found in your bag, whos to say its for consumption in the cinema? At any rate, people would be much more likely to buy their sweets in the cinema if they were sold at regular prices.

herbieflowers · 18-01-2008 04:12PM

Hey, I work in a cinema and we don't allow backpacks into the screens (for health and safety in case of a fire; recording equipment; food) You're supposed to apprehend (hehe) anyone who tries to sneak food in (they're allowed in as long as they collect the food afterwards) but I usually turn a blind eye as (unless it's someone I don't like...) 1) I used to do it myself and 2) the prices are ridiculous. One guy tried to smuggle in whole cooked chicken, smelt it a mile off, funny stuff though.

You'd always find beer cans and that in the screens afterwards, trick is to hide the stuff well on your person, it's not that difficult. I mean, don't make a big show of the fact that you're bringing outside stuff in...they won't half like that!

Branoic · 18-01-2008 08:30PM

agent smith wrote: »

this is just the start! next thing you know pubs will Make you Buy your beer there!

Difference is, people generally go to the movies to Watch a Movie, not to Buy Rip-off Food.

Bros123 · 18-01-2008 11:05PM

Has anyone mentioned the cost of bringing children to the cinema and then buying sweets etc in there?
Any sane parent will buy it before they go in as the costs would be astronomical when going with even 2 or 3 kids.

johnny_ultimate · 18-01-2008 11:11PM

I regularly bring in my own roll (a far tastier option thatn the cinema choices), and pretty much always bring in my own bottle of H20. Prices have gotten far too ridiculous. I like the occasional box of cinema popcorn and all, but 4 or more euro for a small box in Cineworld is robbery. IMC Dun Laoghaire is better value (especially on Tuesdays at 4 euro for a popcorn and a drink on top of four euro student ticket) but I for one think it is a far better offer to pick up snacks beforehand in Tesco. Water and popcorn for just over a euro is the way to go

Secretpint · 18-01-2008 11:41PM

I have to say that the smell of hot food, Mcdonalds etc is just nasty in a cinema, when I worked in cineworld you see how piggish people are regarding not cleaning up after themselves, it was really horrible cleaning up half eaten big macs/chicken fillet rolls dropped on the floor

AARRRGH · 18-01-2008 11:51PM

Reminds me of the Curb Your Enthusiasm where some freak who doesn't work for the cinema won't let him bring water into the movie... so he has to hide the bottle down his trousers... uh oh...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7_MaQRiCsk

senordingdong · 19-01-2008 12:50PM

I just wish someone would do this stuff to me.
I haven't kicked up a fuss in ages.

Boggles · 19-01-2008 01:01PM

Was just thinking there, the sale profit on popcorn must be 99.99%. 1 small bag of unpopped would fill a small bin.

Plus there ratio of one can of coke to five gallons of water, must yield some profit.

cooperguy · 19-01-2008 03:22PM

The main reason that the food is so expensive is because most of the ticket price goes to the studios, distributors etc. the cinemas make their profit from the food. Luckily for me I dont have to pay Dublin prices though:D

unreggd · 19-01-2008 05:27PM

Just refuse it

they have no right to search your bags

Its not a retail store, they're not security guards

keefg · 19-01-2008 05:57PM

Like most shops, pubs, restaurants etc the cinema probably have a "Management have the right to refuse entry" clause in use.

Even if you have bought a ticket for an event such as a movie, gig or nightclub this does not guarantee admittance.

Going to the cinema used to be a cheap night out but with the price of the food & drink they sell as well as the increase in ticket prices it hasn't been for a long time.

ztoical · 19-01-2008 08:49PM

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

I regularly bring in my own roll (a far tastier option thatn the cinema choices), and pretty much always bring in my own bottle of H20.

Thats what I normally do as well, I'm not a massive fan of cinema food [worked in what is now cineworld but was UGC/Virgin cinemas back in my college days and was put right off the food as a result]. I got a plain buttered roll and brought it into the Savoy about two years ago and during the preveiws a memeber of staff came in and asked me to leave cus I'd brought the roll in.

L31mr0d · 19-01-2008 09:15PM

last time I remember an usher going through bags was for the premier of Lord of the Rings in the Savoy, one of my friends worked for a vending machine refilling company and had brought a backpack full of gummies and chocolates for all of us. The usher seen the contents of his bag and refused him entrance and said he could leave his bag behind the ticket counter until the movie was over. My friend obliged as he didn't want to miss the movie.

Usually now though its not an issue, as I like to actually have warm popcorn when i'm in the cinema and the combo deal prices at movies@swords is actually pretty decent. Plus the cinema is the only place I know that actually sells my favourite B&J ice cream, Cherry Garcia.

One question, I mean if they tell me I can't bring my food into the cinema and object can they actually kick me out? Is there some clause at cinemas where merely buying a ticket gives them permission to refuse you entrance if you have food on you.

qwertplaywert · 19-01-2008 11:13PM

I think the best solution is(because theres no way in hell the prices are gonna go down, there gonna keep going up)to introduce a 'club' for people who to the cinema regulary, e.g. twice or more a month. They could get reduced ticket prices, reduced food/ drink, and pay a yearly subscription.

babyhack · 20-01-2008 12:31AM

qwertplaywert wrote: »

I think the best solution is(because theres no way in hell the prices are gonna go down, there gonna keep going up)to introduce a 'club' for people who to the cinema regulary, e.g. twice or more a month. They could get reduced ticket prices, reduced food/ drink, and pay a yearly subscription.

Cineworld Unlimited Card

BH

niceirishfella · 20-01-2008 12:50AM

Jack Sheehan wrote: »

Well a couple of months ago I brought an entire apache pizza into the Ormone in Stillorgan and no one batted an eyelid. Probably just the English getting you down etc etc etc.

And a Garlic bread with Cheez??:D

MiloFoxburr · 20-01-2008 11:42AM

babyhack wrote: »

Cineworld Unlimited Card

BH

That doesn't get you reduced food/drink prices :P

prod_igy · 20-01-2008 03:31PM

cineworld on parnell street is rite beside my college so i usually have my schoolbag with me when i go in and have a roll, water and maybe some crisps in it, which are much cheaper than the food on offer in the cinema, and i have never been checked, and have never seen anyone get checked either.

On another note, i read somewhere that the most profitable commodity in the world, ahead of oil, and even heroin, is popcorn that is for sale in cinemas. I cant remember the exact markup but it was somewhere along the lines of 10,000%.......something ridiculous like that anyway!!

grames_bond · 20-01-2008 03:39PM

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

I regularly bring in my own roll (a far tastier option...)

i went to see the first showing of die hard 4, and the person beside me had a roll and was the loudest fcukin eater in the world, it was so incredibly irritating! Now i do agree that prices have gone mad in cinemas, but common courtocy (sp?) should override anything.....dont bring in noisy food!

senordingdong · 20-01-2008 03:44PM

grames_bond wrote: »

i went to see the first showing of die hard 4, and the person beside me had a roll and was the loudest fcukin eater in the world, it was so incredibly irritating! Now i do agree that prices have gone mad in cinemas, but common courtocy (sp?) should override anything.....dont bring in noisy food!

Or smelly food.

johnny_ultimate · 20-01-2008 04:19PM

grames_bond wrote: »

i went to see the first showing of die hard 4, and the person beside me had a roll and was the loudest fcukin eater in the world, it was so incredibly irritating! Now i do agree that prices have gone mad in cinemas, but common courtocy (sp?) should override anything.....dont bring in noisy food!

I'd usually eat it during the ads and keep it as quiet as possible. Yes, an overtly well wrapper roll is slighly noisy, but the rustling of popcorn can be pretty loud too. I wouldn't consider a roll 'noisy food' in any case.

Bringing own food into cinema

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