Getting turned away from the cinema

[Frank63]

A man was ejected from Cineworld in Stockport Greater Manchester the other week for taking in his own sweets and can of coke.



Does the team think... this is a bit much ?

[Mark O]

It is a bit much Frank, the Cinema owners would rather people pay for their overpriced stuff, personally I usually take a small Bottle of mineral water and one bar of chocolate in with me, hidden inside my Jacket pocket!

[ProfMarcus]

There is one infallible justification for kicking a cinemagoer out of a cinema: for talking while the film's on.



I speak as one who has many times contemplated mayhem when such a thing has occurred in my vicinity.

[Steve Crook]

name='Mark O']It is a bit much Frank, the Cinema owners would rather people pay for their overpriced stuff, personally I usually take a small Bottle of mineral water and one bar of chocolate in with me, hidden inside my Jacket pocket!

Why do you think you have to hide it?

As was discussed in another recent thread, if they allow any food or drink inside then they must allow you to take your own. They can't force you to buy their own overpriced offerings.



The NFT doesn't allow any food or drink, except water, to be taken inside. And they have some very reasonably priced bars & cafes in the building



Steve

[hankoler]

Well you can't take your own drink in a pub or your own food in a restaurant , so I suppose

the cinema does have an arguement.

[batman]

name='hankoler']Well you can't take your own drink in a pub or your own food in a restaurant , so I suppose

the cinema does have an arguement.

They would if I took a dvd in and said 'I want to watch this' .... but sweets etc are not what I go to the cinema for, they are what retailers call 'companion sales'. They sell food and drink on trains etc but you can still eat your own stuff during your journey if you want to. What if I was diabetic and wanted to take in sugar free sweets, cinema sweets are full of sugar et al.

[image45]

This is one of thoughs tales where there are so many different points to add an extra depth to it even though its really just about some sweets!

[Mark O]

name='Steve Crook']Why do you think you have to hide it?

As was discussed in another recent thread, if they allow any food or drink inside then they must allow you to take your own. They can't force you to buy their own overpriced offerings.



Steve

Interesting point Steve, I guess I tend to be over cautious when it comes to avoiding potential dilemmas as I don't like 'Argy-bargy'........of any description!

[ShirlGirl]

You might like to read previous comments on this subject, Frank....



Cinema tuckshop

[christoph404]

If you go on the "Cineworld" website (FAQ) it outlines its policy on food, which is a strict policy of no food or drink purchased out with the premises allowed to be consumed within the cinema and Cineworld reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone bringing their own picnic.In effect they are forcing you to buy their own products under penalty of ejection! The website info goes on to say that not all movie goers are considerate of others in their snack choice so Cineworld has to enforce the ban for that reason, and it also says that all the necessary signs are in place informing customers of the policy. I for one couldn't think of anything worse than sitting beside someone eating a smelly Macdonalds or Burger King,or a Chinese or Indian takeaway, its bad enough on the tube or train when someone tucks in to that kind of stuff, it makes me want to get off at the next stop! (and I'm not a vegetarian) However I don't see any harm in bringing in your own packs of maltesers and can of coke but how would the cinema be able to specify what you are and aren't allowed to take in? Cinemas make a lot of money from the sales of popcorn and drinks, possibly more than they do form seat tickets in some cinemas, it seems like they want to protect that revenue. If the signs are there saying you cant bring your own snacks, it's probably wise to hide your opal fruits and can of coke in your jacket and produce them when the lights go down otherwise you may find yourself on the losing end of a confrontation.I never eat or drink when Im at the cinema and to be honest I find the constant rustling ,slurping and munching all around me very irritating which is why I like going to the NFT!

[Harleybloke]

DVD at home while scoffing a take away curry......................MUCH better than sneaking sweets in the local Kino!

[Steve Crook]

name='christoph404']If you go on the "Cineworld" website (FAQ) it outlines its policy on food

That sounds like another good reason for never going to a Cineworld

I particularly like the bit where they say that it's to "protect our cinema finishes and customers clothing". Because of course if you bring your own food and drink you're liable to throw it around all over the place. But if you buy their food & drink then you'd never do that.



I don't think they've got a leg to stand on, legally or morally.

If they had a total ban of food and drink in the auditorium that'd be OK.

But saying that you can only take in food or drink that you buy on site? Very dodgy



Steve

[john audley]

If I read the press article correctly the guy did have an enormous amount of noticeable

pre-purchased goods. Frankly I do not understand the obsession with stocking up an enormous amount of foodstuffs! I say, have a good restaurant meal before hand and take a chock bar in pocket if one must.

[Carmel]

My daughter and i went to the cinema last night to see Juno and there were 4 boys and a girl sitting behind us drinking beer and shouting all night when i told a memeber of staff they just said we will keep an eye on them but you guessed it nothing was doneNever again will i go back there to see a film what a waste of money and time all because of a handful of low life. the best about it they were only about 14/15 years old where are their parents in the local pub i suppose great role models. Kick the like of these low lifes out not someone that wants to take a few sweets in. Thank you all for letting me let off some steam but every time iv thought about it today iv felt angry.

[christoph404]

name='Steve Crook']That sounds like another good reason for never going to a Cineworld

I particularly like the bit where they say that it's to "protect our cinema finishes and customers clothing". Because of course if you bring your own food and drink you're liable to throw it around all over the place. But if you buy their food & drink then you'd never do that.



I don't think they've got a leg to stand on, legally or morally.

If they had a total ban of food and drink in the auditorium that'd be OK.

But saying that you can only take in food or drink that you buy on site? Very dodgy



Steve

It does seem a bit of a grey area, I would have thought Cineworld would have a good legal argument for their right to outline the terms under which they want to do business and to indicate those terms with visible signs whilst reserving the right to refuse entry to those who don't want to comply. They could argue that as a commercial business they expect, and indeed have a right, to generate revenue and profit by selling sweets and drinks from their own premises and that customers who bring their own food are undermining that part of their business. It would be the same if you wanted to take your own sandwiches to a pub that also serves food, the management would be entitled to ask you not to eat your own food on their premises even though you were also buying a couple of pints of beer.That would seem reasonable to me, if we were to look at the prices pubs charge for a small glass of coke, or an orange juice or even a bottle of beer (£3.50 where I live for a small bottle of carlsberg) then the prices cinemas charge start to look not too bad in comparison.Of course one could go to Tesco Metro and buy a can of coke for about 50p and a bottle of Carslberg for 99p and have it at home. I guess we all have a choice, if we think something is too expensive then we don't have to buy it at all. If Cineworld are saying no food from outside I would say that is a good thing if it prevents people bringing smelly Big Macs and fish and chips into the theatre, I fail to see how they could police and prevent people taking in the odd bar of chocolate or packet of sweets in your pocket but if you are blatantly trying to enter the theatre with a very large picnic of anti social food then I think its reasonable for the cinema to say no.

[Marky B]

Sorry to bring a tragic twist on this one. You say they were 14/15 year olds,drunk? A 15 year old girl has been found guilty of murdering an 18 year old mother after drunken argument last August in Tyneside. The teenager showed no remorse when the verdict was announced. Again,sorry for bringing up a sore subject.

Ta Ta

Marky B

[christoph404]

name='Carmel']My daughter and i went to the cinema last night to see Juno and there were 4 boys and a girl sitting behind us drinking beer and shouting all night when i told a memeber of staff they just said we will keep an eye on them but you guessed it nothing was doneNever again will i go back there to see a film what a waste of money and time all because of a handful of low life. the best about it they were only about 14/15 years old where are their parents in the local pub i suppose great role models. Kick the like of these low lifes out not someone that wants to take a few sweets in. Thank you all for letting me let off some steam but every time iv thought about it today iv felt angry.

You should have demanded your money back from the manager or at least a set of complimentary tickets to come back another time on the basis that your evening was ruined by other unruly members of the audience. I would have thought the cinema staff would have a duty to ensure that order is maintained during screening and unruly members of the audience to be ejected from the cinema. You complained but staff failed to act so you have a good argument for a refund. You could even go back to the cinema at a later date with a view to taking it up with the manager and demanding some form of compensation or refund. I would.

[Carmel]

name='christoph404']You should have demanded your money back from the manager or at least a set of complimentary tickets to come back another time on the basis that your evening was ruined by other unruly members of the audience. I would have thought the cinema staff would have a duty to ensure that order is maintained during screening and unruly members of the audience to be ejected from the cinema. You complained but staff failed to act so you have a good argument for a refund. You could even go back to the cinema at a later date with a view to taking it up with the manager and demanding some form of compensation or refund. I would.

The staff themselves are school kids and it wouldn't suprise me that they knew them thats why they never said any thing. The girls in the shop are no more that 15/16 and the boys that take the tickets not much older again. Its sad that these children are drinking and misbehaving like this its more like no family disapline at home sad really.

[Steve Crook]

name='christoph404']It does seem a bit of a grey area, I would have thought Cineworld would have a good legal argument for their right to outline the terms under which they want to do business and to indicate those terms with visible signs whilst reserving the right to refuse entry to those who don't want to comply. They could argue that as a commercial business they expect, and indeed have a right, to generate revenue and profit by selling sweets and drinks from their own premises and that customers who bring their own food are undermining that part of their business. It would be the same if you wanted to take your own sandwiches to a pub that also serves food, the management would be entitled to ask you not to eat your own food on their premises even though you were also buying a couple of pints of beer.That would seem reasonable to me, if we were to look at the prices pubs charge for a small glass of coke, or an orange juice or even a bottle of beer (£3.50 where I live for a small bottle of carlsberg) then the prices cinemas charge start to look not too bad in comparison.Of course one could go to Tesco Metro and buy a can of coke for about 50p and a bottle of Carslberg for 99p and have it at home. I guess we all have a choice, if we think something is too expensive then we don't have to buy it at all. If Cineworld are saying no food from outside I would say that is a good thing if it prevents people bringing smelly Big Macs and fish and chips into the theatre, I fail to see how they could police and prevent people taking in the odd bar of chocolate or packet of sweets in your pocket but if you are blatantly trying to enter the theatre with a very large picnic of anti social food then I think its reasonable for the cinema to say no.

I would agree, if it was "anti social food" (lovely phrase) or a large picnic that you were trying to take in.



But that announcement that you can't take any food in - except food that you've bought from them seems hypocritical and wrong. If it was a total ban on food, great, I'd support that. It's the hypocrisy of saying they stop people bringing their own food in because it might damage the seats or other people's clothing - but then say you can take in food that you've bought from them. That's what I object to.



A pub is in the business of providing refreshment & sustenance, solid or liquid. It's reasonable that they wouldn't like you bringing in food or drink that you'd bought elsewhere.



But a cinema is surely in the business of providing entertainment, not selling drinks & sweets.



Although it beats me why people feel the need to eat so much in cinemas anyway. If there's anyone here who does always eat in a cinema, could they maybe explain why they do?



Steve

[harryfielder]

Am I the only one that took fish and chips into a cinema when I was 15 years old.

(It was the afternoon show and I had to sit down the front on my own)



Aitch,