To sneak snacks into the cinema

[rackhampearl]

I haven't been on MN in ages so don't know if this has been done recently. Just wondering if you think it's ok to take your own snacks to the cinema? I've never done it before but we are moving house next week so things are a little tight but I promised the girls a cinema trip during half term. Could do without the £10 for a popcorn and fruitshoot. They don't drink juice anyway so was thinking of taking their water bottles and stopping by the shop for a £1 bag of popcorn and some chocolate buttons, AIBU?

[MissionItsPossible]

I always bring my own snacks in. I'm surprised more cinemas haven't closed down due to this as they make their money from snacks and food. They earn pittance on the tickets and the majority goes to the studio. I think after the third week it's the cinema that gets the majority of the profit but of course, most cinema goers don't go to see a three-week old film.

[trac2007]

I remember they used to check bags years ago to stop people taking in their own snacks! I was at the cinema Tuesday (hello Mr Grey 😍) and I took my own snacks with me...went tesco before for 3 for £1 on jelly sweets. My friend paid about £8 for her pick n mix and drink from the cinema counter 😳

[Raisinbrain]

I once took a plastic water bottle with gin and tonic in on a girly cinema trip. The bottle top went POP when I tried to open it and flew off never to be seen again

[BothersomeCrow]

Once DP and I wangled unexpectedly babysitting and legged it to a film we really wanted to see. Got our tickets and realised we'd had no dinner but there was a Burger King next door. I would have thought burgers were antisocially smelly but they were selling burgers and hot dogs right in the cinema (Odeon), so figured we might as well join in the odour of ketchup.

The indie cinema near us serves lovely home-made cake and a full bar, so I happily support them as they have comfy seats and atmosphere. I resent paying £50 quid for the family to see a movie on a weekend (disabled 2 for 1 passes are only valid on 'full price' tickets, not a family ticket) and then the screen is basically a large TV with worse sound, in a grey box like an office basement. Not that I pay that more than once every 3 years.

Cinemas and museums and theme parks all seem to be moving to the model of selling annual membership and being cost effective if you go regularly, but being so prohibitive for the casual user it puts them off.

[maggienolia]

Interestingly our local Cineworld sticks labels on all food bought from them now. Anyone else seen this?

[WinterRose92]

YANBU - we always bring our own snacks. Stupidly expensive else! (Usually stop off in Poundland for treats before we go 😜)

[specialsubject]

I checked - cineworld dont care as long as food is not hot and not smelly.

[Notcool1984]

I worked in a cinema for four years and couldn't have cared less if people brought their own snacks

[MilesJuppIsMyBitch]

Chocolatecoveredpringle, I've got a full house on my AIBU bingo card because of your 'disgusting' and 'revolting', thank you

Off to claim my £5 at MNHQ.

[maddiemookins16mum]

There's always someone who says 'no wonder we're all obese' when an eating in the Cinema thread is posted.
Scoffing a packet of Munchies in the cinema is part of the experience and one of the only times I ever eat a whole pack of sweeties in one go.

[Scabbersley]

I take chocs and drinks. Nothing noisy or smelly.

I do sometimes wonder why it seems essential to eat at the cinema as I don't when I'm watching a film at home, but it is, for some reason.

[Pittcuecothecookbook]

Covering your pringles in chocolate can't help your weight either...

[HottySnanky]

I came on this thread to say what strawberries just said - "cinema food is so expensive because that's where the real profit is". You are bang on. A big whack of the ticket revenue, less VAT, will go back to the distributor. You know when you read things like "Toy Story 78 took £8billion at the box office in its first weekend" - that's £8billion for Pixar or whoever, not the cinemas. Profit margins on tickets are tiny.
However, profit margins on cheap snacks can be huge. As lots of you have pointed out, cinema snacks are very expensive. They will be as expensive as the cinema dares, so that they stand a chance of staying open and being able to pay their staff etc etc.

So, as someone who used to work in an independent cinema where it was volunteers who cleaned the popcorn off the floor and showed people to their seats...and it was one member of staff selling tickets and then running to the bar to sell the coffee... please buy a few snacks from your local indy cinema because they will be grateful for every penny. (But feel free to order Dominos if you're in a VUE) )

[Potteryprincess30]

@Deshasafraisy Yes! Me and my daughter who is nearly 8 do this, it's fabulous isn't it? we get sandwiches, juice, popcorn, crisps and dips from there and it is still probably cheaper then buying just two boxes of popcorn in cinema

(and before anyone says, we are very quiet conscientious eaters around other cinema goers and clean up our debry ect)

[MummySparkle]

Take snacks! Get the DCs a lunchbox each and fill with popcorn / chocolate bottoms so there's no rustling packets

[Branleuse]

i always take snacks into the odeon, but if i go to a smaller cheap cinema, i buy snacks there

[gussyfinknottle]

Always sneak in Water and snacks.

[mizu]

It's a very rare occurrence for us to buy snacks in the cinema - usually on the rare occurrence that my DH comes with us

There is a Wilkos near the cinema so we get sweets from there.

We don't go to the cinema very often anyway, the prices !!!!!!!

[southeastdweller]

I always bring in my own too. Such a waste of money to buy food at cinemas. To hell with their overpriced crap! I've never seen any signs saying you're not allowed to bring in food but even if there was I'd ignore them.

Vue and Odeon are doing a £4.99 deal for any film at any time but it's only at certain cinemas in the U.K.