Cost of cinema.

I have had a few days off so decided to take my 3 year old son to see Turbo at the cinema. It cost £6.90 for me and £6.50 for him. Obviously he wanted popcorn etc. They do something called a munch box, where you get a pack of sweets, small bag of popcorn and a carton of drink for £3.95 and a drink for me £3.10. So in total £20.45. We had a great time and both enjoyed our boys afternoon. When we got home my wife told me that her mom was going to look after the kids, whilst we went to the cinema to see Captain Philips. Cost this time £9 each, my wife had some pick and mix and I had some Nanchos and we both had a drink cost £14.65. So in total £32.65, add to this the afternoon with my son and it's a total of £53.10. When you put parking to this it's nearly £60. What has happened to the cinema? When we were kids it was a cheap afternoon/ evening out. I thoroughly enjoyed both films, but when I added it all up it really put a dampened on the day.

Rusty

 

I use the Orange Wednesday offer when I go, so one of us is free.

Have a meal before I go, so don't need to buy any ridiculosly expensive snacks.

Get the parking ticket refunded when we leave, so it works out less than a tenner usually.

 

I take sweets and chocs with me in my handbag if I want some. I think their prices are a rip off.

 

Definitely going to take own sweets next time. Unfortunately were not on orange anymore as we were able to save nearly £50 a month by moving to 3 and there are is no refunded parking at the cinema we go to.

Rusty

 

Can you save money by booking online in advance?

 

True, this would have saved me £3.15 which would have gone towards the parking I suppose.

Rusty

 

Our local paper has a voucher in every Thursday which gives 2-for-1 on the following Monday at a local cinema. This is the local art house cinema which has a good mix of arty films and better-quality Hollywood efforts, plus kids' films. It's in the town so I can walk, bus or cycle if necessary, or get free after-6 on-street parking.

I don't get food or drink, or I would bring my own if needed.

I certainly would not choose to go to an out-of-town cinema that made me pay for parking.

 

Don't know where you are in Solihull, but have you sampled the rebuilt Midlands Art Centre, Cannon Hill Park?
http://www.macarts.co.uk/events/cinema

Plenty of film choice, no over-priced snacks (AFAIK) and you could have had 3 adult tickets and a child for £26, if I've understood aright, plus the petrol for a 20 minute drive across Birmingham and back.

I haven't been there since the rebuild but it used to offer good value for money, probably still does, and free parking.

 

In have never understood why people need to eat in the Cinema and why Popcorn?

 

There's a reason for the popcorn

(caution, posted by Naughty admin)

 

We have a weekly matinee at the local which is £3 and another with an orange deal which we go to as often as possible as I really like the flics - what with the shocking quality of most films screened it isn't as often as I'd like. Parking is free and I don't eat or drink in the cinema as it is does my head in listening to people chomping on popcorn etc. To boot it's a rip off. Also what is it with people on their mobiles during the film these days? Utterly selfish.
Rant over, sorry.

p.s. last time I went to see a film in London it was £12.50!

GG