Bringing own food into cinema

Princess J · 20-01-2008 04:40PM

Me and my mom smuggled a kilo of prawns into Lethal Weapon 3 when it came out

Good times

Pigman II · 20-01-2008 04:52PM

Don't the cinemas make more money out of confectionary than they do from ticket sales tho? If so then you're basically robbing these places of their livelihood.

I don't buy the food from cinemas purely because I'm not a fat bastard and I like to look after myself. Likewise I presume
you smugglers only bring in salad and bottled water when you go to a movie, right?

Princess J · 20-01-2008 05:07PM

Pigman II wrote: »

Don't the cinemas make more money out of confectionary than they do from ticket sales tho? If so then you're basically robbing these places of their livelihood.

I don't buy the food from cinemas purely because I'm not a fat bastard and I like to look after myself. Likewise I presume
you smugglers only bring in salad and bottled water when you go to a movie, right?

A cinema ticket here in Cork is E9 per adult. A medium drink costs E3.20. That's for about 500ml, which is the supermarket costs E1.20 ish. And the cinema stuff is a syrup mix which is why the cola tastes slightly different to bottled coca cola.

I do think the confectionary prices in a cinema might be a rip off, but I only bring in things I cannot buy in the cinema. I don't go often enough to be complaining about their prices, plus I have no idea how much overhead costs of running a cinema are. Maybe their prices do need to be that to make a profit, I don't know.

As for the last part of your post, I think that that is a gross generalisation to make. I'm by no means "a fat bast*rd" and I do like to look after myself, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy the odd fizzy drink or bar of chocolate. There are worse vices I could have, that would also be more damaging. Don't get me wrong, I'm not taking your comment personally, I'm just pointing out that not everyone who eats confectionary in the cinema is a "fat bast*rd"

FYI : most cinemas sell bottled water

ixoy · 20-01-2008 05:16PM

Pigman II wrote: »

Don't the cinemas make more money out of confectionary than they do from ticket sales tho? If so then you're basically robbing these places of their livelihood.

Correct. I remember seeing before that popcorn has about a 10,000% markup on the cost of its raw ingredients (when bought in bulk). Even factoring heating, rent, wages, etc. it's still a nice margin of profit and it's what keeps cinemas going.
It's the reason that Cineworld have their Unlimited card - they decide to remove the minimal profit they would have likely got from the ticket sale and hope that they'll make it up by customer's munching on their over-priced food even more. If all their customers did as I did then, they'd have been forced to close up a long time ago...

ztoical · 20-01-2008 06:48PM

Pigman II wrote: »

Don't the cinemas make more money out of confectionary than they do from ticket sales tho? If so then you're basically robbing these places of their livelihood.

Cinemas don't make a profit out of ticket sales - they cover their expenses and make profits from confectionary sales. However what if you don't want any food at all? I've many a time gone to a film and not brought any food or drink with me or purchased any at the cinema. Should I fork out another 10 euros just so I won't feel bad for robbing them of their livelihood?

Pigman II wrote: »

I don't buy the food from cinemas purely because I'm not a fat bastard and I like to look after myself. Likewise I presume
you smugglers only bring in salad and bottled water when you go to a movie, right?

I think its more a case of people being cheap then thinking of their health and honestly aren't there enough "ugh fat people" threads going on on PI and after hours? don't think we need to start one on a film board. And you don't have to buy bottled water in the cinema if you ask a member of staff will get you a glass of tap water.

MiloFoxburr · 20-01-2008 11:32PM

Was in Cineworld there tonight and the girl checking the tickets stopped 2 young teens going up with food course they did have 2 6 packs of Hunky Dorys and about 12 Fruit Shoots so I can sorta understand why, they would of been noisy feckers throughout what ever movie they were in.

They didn't stop me and my friends (I had water in my hand, and a friend had some popcorn and crisps in a HMV Bag). Although the security guy upstairs did have a second look at my friend and I thought he was gonna say something about the bag but he didn't.

I normally only bring water into the cinemas anyways and maybe a bar of chocolate or one packet of crisps (Both eaten well before the movie starts) so this doesn't bother me too much. No way in hell am I paying nearly €3 for a bottle of Water though.

Oh and for the first 5 minutes of Sweeny Todd I could hear people all around me opening packets of things was actually quite annoying, it got quieter after that though

Charlie · 21-01-2008 02:30AM

As already stated, they can't legally compel a search, but they can refuse admission without giving a reason.

Strangely, I was in New york on a J1, I probably went to the cinema at least twice a week. I was sitting in the upper lobby of a cinema in Times Square, just beside the roped section where an usher tears your ticket. I was monching a shish kebab, and when I finished I went to go through. The usher remarked that I didn't have to sit there nad finish my food, I could of brought it through to the screen. I found this odd, but I think it must be the case in the US that it is estb. that patrons CAN bring their own food in.

Thought this was odd seeing as it was in the U.S. where you're lead to believe that profit is everything.

On a sidenote, U.S cinemas put ours to shame (butter your own popcorn, lethal!

)

ztoical · 21-01-2008 08:05AM

charlie mchugh wrote: »

On a sidenote, U.S cinemas put ours to shame (butter your own popcorn, lethal! )

Don't know if they still do it but UGC/cineworld use to let you butter your own popcorn [and most people went overkill and the bottom would fall out of the tub]

Lived in New York for four years and never had any issues bringing food into cinemas there - some of the cinemas [Anglika down on Huston] even sell sandwhiches. Thing I liked was there was no assigned sitting, always first come first served, bloody hate the whole assigned sitting thing in dublin cinemas.

grames_bond · 21-01-2008 09:15AM

ztoical wrote: »

Don't know if they still do it but UGC/cineworld use to let you butter your own popcorn .

ye they stopped that completely, not only that but they dont even sell buttered popcorn anymore!

Jello · 21-01-2008 10:06AM

ztoical wrote: »

Thing I liked was there was no assigned sitting, always first come first served, bloody hate the whole assigned sitting thing in dublin cinemas.

Go to Cineworld then, they don't have assigned seating.

Wacker · 21-01-2008 10:38AM

I only ever bring a bottle of water into the cinema (unless I'm ravenous), and at €1.90 in the IMC I don't feel I'm really being ripped off badly at all. Cineworld is a lot more expensive, but they're in business to do business, so I tend to oblige them with my custom anyway.

I had a mate who used to work in the IMC and he told me that the cinema buys a large bag of popcorn seeds for just €10. This can sell for as much as €1,000. There are loads of other expenses associated with this though, such as the oil and packaging(long before you ever factor in things like staff and electricity, etc.) so once again I don't think this is an unreasonable mark-up.
I get annoyed by people in the queue who buy two large bags of sweets, a tub of ice cream, a large popcorn and a large drink who act dismayed when their purchase come to €18 or so. Did they think all that stuff was free?

Kintarō Hattori · 21-01-2008 10:49AM

I really don't get the whole eating in the cinema thing. If I'm hungry I'll have something to eat before I go in because:

A) I'd really hate to think I was disturbing people around me

I'm going to watch a movie, eating is just a distraction

On occasion I have brought coke or water into the cinema as its redicuously priced at €3.30 for a 500ml bottle. I have also bought their pick 'n' mix sweets too but never their big packs of revels, malteasers etc as they are an insane price too.

Snacks are fine in the cinema but the people in there georging themselves on burgers, hotdogs etc are just distracting everyone else.

senordingdong · 21-01-2008 11:18AM

charlie mchugh wrote: »

On a sidenote, U.S cinemas put ours to shame (butter your own popcorn, lethal! )

That's not butter pal.

Sam Vimes · 21-01-2008 02:19PM

ztoical wrote: »

Thing I liked was there was no assigned sitting, always first come first served, bloody hate the whole assigned sitting thing in dublin cinemas.

i find that very hard to understand. UCI only does assigned seating occasionally and if its unassigned and you've gone with a few mates you have to search in the dark to find the right number of seats together. there might be 10 seats free on a row but spread out in the gaps between smaller groups. sometimes you end up sitting apart in a cinema with 50 seats free.

whereas when they have assigned seating the staff member will let you look at the screen and choose the seats you want when buying. that way you get all the benefits of unassigned seating in that you can pick where you want to sit and you won't have to sit at random points around the cinema. the only difference is you pick your seat on the screen before you go in instead of rummaging around in the dark

any time i go to the cinema i book online beforehand and if the seating is unassigned i get the premier seats. they cost more but i know i won't have to rush in lest i end up in the very left side of the front row again. by the end of the film those seats leave you with eye and neck strain

what possible drawbacks can assigned seating have?

Mully · 21-01-2008 02:23PM

Cineworld & IMC would be the cinemas a attend most.

Cineworld do have signs up saying NO food/drink can be brought in.
I generally buy popcorn (as I generally pull the bollocks out their Unlimited Card), but I do bring my own drink.

IMC also have a sign up, but they have stipulations on what food can
be brought in ... i.e. no bottles over 750ml etc.

IMC have also started a loyalty system called 'Stubs'. Book you tickets over the net, & you get points which you redeem against Popcorn, drinks & tickets.

http://www.imc-cinemas.com/stubs/stubs.asp

glenroe2006 · 21-01-2008 02:49PM

I work in a cinema and we generally turn a blind eye to people bringing in their own food, except we are encouraged to stop people who try to bring in food like McDonald's or Burger King. I think the main reason for this is that we just don't have the time to be cleaning up all of that crap after people. It's bad enough that there's always at least five people who knock their whole bag of popcorn on the floor and there's always one who's managed to spill their whole drink too. We only have on average 30 minutes to clean up a screen between showings which actually isn't a lot of time when you have to pick up rubbish and sweep a screen that seats 400+ people. Cleaning up the remains of people's McDonalds, ketchup everywhere and the likes, is just not something we want to deal with.

r3nu4l · 21-01-2008 02:57PM

Monkey61 wrote: »

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

Well, I regularly go to two different Cineworlds in East Anglia and have never seen anyone have their bag searched! I've gone in with my own shopping and never had my bag searched either.

However the Cineworld Website FAQ clearly states that bringing your own food and drink is not allowed...

Can I bring in my own food and drink?
Cineworld have a strict NO FOOD AND DRINK policy. We reserve the right to refuse customers entry into the screens with food or drink bought outside the premises. All our cinemas display the necessary signage, advising customers of this policy.

As a food operator we offer a wide range of drinks and snacks to satisfy our customers but also protect our cinema finishes and customers clothing. Not all movie-goers are considerate of others in their snack choices and we have needed to set clearer guidelines on what is appropriate.

I've highlighted the bit in bold that I most agree with. Do you want the guy beside you eating Salami sandwiches? I don't!

The other thing to note is that most staff are reasonable about this kind of thing and will happily let you in if it's only a bag of sweets and a coke/lucozade or similar. OP, you may have been unlucky because I've never seen this before and I've been to almost 100 movies in the past 3.5 years I've lived in England.

Otis Driftwood · 21-01-2008 03:39PM

ztoical wrote: »

Thing I liked was there was no assigned sitting, always first come first served, bloody hate the whole assigned sitting thing in dublin cinemas.

That really pisses in my flower bed.

Me and my girlfriend went to see PS I Love You (shut up) in Dundrum about 2 weeks ago and the cinema was wedged and these fat knuckle dragging mongoloid ushers trying to seat people.It ended up with a queue of at least 50 people waiting to get seated and any time anyone tried to move these sweaty idiots started roaring at them.

I hate those guys and its my lifes mission to trip one of them when they are walking down the stairs.

F_u_c_k-tards.

21-01-2008 03:50PM

nedtheshed wrote: »

That really pisses in my flower bed.

Me and my girlfriend went to see PS I Love You (shut up) in Dundrum about 2 weeks ago and the cinema was wedged and these fat knuckle dragging mongoloid ushers trying to seat people.It ended up with a queue of at least 50 people waiting to get seated and any time anyone tried to move these sweaty idiots started roaring at them.

I hate those guys and its my lifes mission to trip one of them when they are walking down the stairs.

F_u_c_k-tards.

And if you were in their shoes, with 50 people (some of whom are ignorant, obviously:rolleyes:) waiting to get seated, you'd do a better job?

Fantastic.

Where I work we have a policy that no outside food is allowed in the cinema screens, neither are rucksacks.

Otis Driftwood · 21-01-2008 03:56PM

What I was on about was the whole assigned seating thing.

The same happened when I went to see Shrooms.There was maybe 20 people in the theatre and they still acted like assholes.

Too full of their own importance and alot of mini Hitlers waddling around the place.

Kintarō Hattori · 21-01-2008 04:21PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Where I work we have a policy that no outside food is allowed in the cinema screens, neither are rucksacks.

When you say rucksake do you include backpacks etc? That would really pliss me off as I don't make a big deal of going to the cinema. I might pop in there to watch a movie after being around town, or before I head off somewhere. I think most movie goers have some sort of bag with them.

polobradaigh · 21-01-2008 04:46PM

Oversized portions of food are the reason why there are so many obese people in the USA. We bend over backwards this side of the Atlantic to copy our American friends (accent, dress, lifestyles, etc., etc.). I have to laugh when I see the buckets of popcorn people eat at the cinema. I have a great plan to three-quarters fill a wheelie bin with polystyrene and then finish off with a 1-inch layer of popcorn on top and drag it behind me into the cinema and wait for the reaction.

If I feel like having an ice cream, rather than pay the exorbitant price charged in the cinema I like to buy a litre tub in Dunnes Stores, and armed with a plastic spoon treat myself and whoever else is with me to the delicious soft ice cream (it goes soft in the intervening time between purchase and consumption!!).

Might try a 5-gallon drum of coca cola with a long length of plastic tubing as well.

senordingdong · 21-01-2008 07:24PM

Mully wrote: »

Cineworld do have signs up saying NO food/drink can be brought in.
I generally buy popcorn (as I generally pull the bollocks out their Unlimited Card), but I do bring my own drink.

I've never seen those signs. Where are they?

grames_bond · 21-01-2008 09:06PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Where I work we have a policy that no outside food is allowed in the cinema screens, neither are rucksacks.

i think thats rediculous, the amount of times i have gone to the cinema from college with a group of mates when we have a break! if every college student was stopped with their bags, cineworld would lose a shed load of money

Podge_irl · 22-01-2008 12:42AM

senordingdong wrote: »

I've never seen those signs. Where are they?

There were some rather small signs just at the escalator, but I think they're gone now. If I bring in food (which is not that often really), I bring it in in a bag and I've never been stopped, nor do I envision I ever will be.

Mully · 22-01-2008 10:32AM

Podge_irl wrote: »

There were some rather small signs just at the escalator, but I think they're gone now. If I bring in food (which is not that often really), I bring it in in a bag and I've never been stopped, nor do I envision I ever will be.

As Podge says, they are/were small signs ... I think they were on the rail as you queue up before the escalator.

As for the bags, I have a bag with me most days. It fits nicely under the seat, I don't see the problem.

My big annoyance with Cineworld, is some of the seats have the drinks holder at your feet on the back of the seat in front of you ... No wonder people spill drinks when you struggle to pick them up !

Aura · 22-01-2008 04:26PM

I'm all for food smuggling in cinemas. Prices outrageous! I mean seriously the mark-up on popcorn would nearly make me contemplate a franchise.

And those extra large bags of minstrels are way cheaper in shops.

grames_bond · 22-01-2008 05:07PM

Mully wrote: »

My big annoyance with Cineworld, is some of the seats have the drinks holder at your feet on the back of the seat in front of you ...

really? ive never seen that (and ive been to cineworld/ugc (itll always be ugc to me) loads of times! is it a different cineworld that have that?

Jello · 22-01-2008 05:29PM

grames_bond wrote: »

really? ive never seen that (and ive been to cineworld/ugc (itll always be ugc to me) loads of times! is it a different cineworld that have that?

Never seen that either, and I'd say I've been in all the screens in Cineworld. Stupid though if they do exist.. the amount of people you'd get banging their heads off the seat in front of them as they reach for their drink would be a joke.

AckwelFoley · 22-01-2008 05:37PM

agent smith wrote: »

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

Yea!! i know!! Bastards!!

Imagine the cheek of the barman to decide not to supply me with 4 pint glasses for the bottle of devils bit i brought in with me!!

Bringing own food into cinema

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