is it ok to leave my 8yr old child and her friend at the cinema on a playdate?

[bananasandpears]

A mother of my daughters best friend recently took my child for a play date for the day. When I went to collect her later I discovered that she had taken them to see a movie but left them there alone to pop into work around the corner. Coming back 1.5hrs later when the movie had finished.
Is this normal? only Im still shocked that she wouldn't think to have asked me if it was ok. To my thinking this is a really risky thing to do. To leave two little girls alone in a public place. Actually is this even legal?
thx for reading my despair!

No- too young. I would've been cross about this.

children this age can happily play outside on their own so why are people finding it bizzare that they can watch a film on their own.

They are in a room staring at a screen. They are surrounded by the public and their are attendants in the theatre so what exactly are you worried about?

We've done this with our 11 year old, and probably would have last year as well except I'm not sure she would have felt confident enough. I would even now always check with the other child's parents, as some are very relaxed and some very protective. I would not have been happy in the OP's position.

minimisschief 2 posters have mentioned being fondled as children in theaters. I suspect that is a concern for them.

I know we aren't allowed to dare EVER suggest that children might be in danger left alone in a darkened room with strangers on mumsnet. But sometimes some people (who aren't even pedo scared daily mail readers) do get nervous about leaving their children with strangers.

I'm not remotely worried about pedos on every corner, but it was the first thing I thought of!! It may be public, but it's also dark and I would have been very annoyed if it had been my daughter.