Yahoo News Cinemas share what snacks and drinks you can take in with you - as some are banned
A night out at the cinema is a fun-filled activity that can be great fun for all the family. A trip to the pictures is also the perfect boredom buster when the summer weather refuses to do its thing.
Unfortunately, a night at the ‘flicks’ has become an expensive pastime, with adult tickets costing as much as £20 per person in some parts of the country. Add in some obligatory snacks and drinks, and the price of a cosy night in front of the big screen feels prohibitively expensive.
With a massive markup on sweets, hot dogs, nachos and drinks once inside the cinema, it's no surprise that most of us have at some point smuggled in our own snacks to save a few pounds.
But do we really need to be so cloak and dagger about it? What do the rules actually say? Kate Lally from the Liverpool Echo got to the bottom of it by asking Vue, Odeon, Cineworld, Showcase and Everyman to clarify their policies on customers bringing food and drink into their cinemas.
Here’s what they said:
Vue
Vue has 98 state-of-the-art cinemas across the UK and Ireland. When it comes to filmgoers taking in their own snacks and beverages, a spokesperson told the Echo: "Vue is proud to offer a wide variety of food and drink with a range of exciting combos available from just £3.99.
"Many of our sites feature draught beer taps and Coke Freestyle machines mixing over 100 flavours at the touch of a screen as well as offering a range of snacks and drinks including Tango Ice Blasts, pick n’ mix, milkshakes and hot food including the likes of customisable nachos and hot dogs.
"Of course if film fans would prefer, they can bring in their own cold snacks and non-alcoholic drinks to ensure all our guests have the best experience possible."
Odeon
Odeon cinemas can be found in 120 locations throughout the UK.
According to the Odean website "We have a fantastic range of cinema classics like popcorn, hot dogs and our famous nachos available to buy in cinema, but we do allow guests to bring in their own snacks and drinks." This excludes heated food, "pungent food", and alcoholic drinks.
It adds: "If you’re unsure, please ask any member of our team in cinema who will be happy to advise you. Please be advised the Odeon Islington Luxe & Dine does not allow you to take your own food."
Cineworld
Cineworld has 103 cinemas in the UK and every single one of them has a strict “NO HOT FOOD OR ALCOHOL” policy, according to their website.
It also states that "We reserve the right to refuse customers entry into the screens with hot food or alcohol bought outside the premises. All our cinemas display the necessary signage, advising customers of this policy".
Showcase
One of the country's smallest cinema chains, Showcase has just 17 UK venues. Its website states: "We do not allow guests to bring hot food, alcoholic beverages and drinks in glass containers into our buildings."
Everyman
Everyman Cinemas is a fairly new venture, offering an innovative approach with 45 boutique cinemas dotted across the country including one in Cardiff.
There is a blanket ban on guests bringing their own snacks or beverages, and a spokesperson told the ECHO: "Please note that only food and drink bought within the cinema is allowed to be taken into the screen."
READ NEXT:
