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?

DH & I always take a subway and cans of G&T in with us. Couldn't fit in dinner & a movie otherwise.

The Vue never seem to mind. We do buy popcorn though, half sweet half salted, yum.

I take popcorn in a Tupperware clip box for adults and pre fill plastic tumblers with screw lids (from poundland) with sweets for the kids. Keep them upright so straw hole is no issue. Plus one small of drink each.

We go to Vue which has a bring your own snack policy. As long as the food is not hot or the drinks contain alcohol.

Mybrows That is hilarious.

Mybrows - hilarious!!! We always take snacks but then it feels too obvious so I buy a drink - but seriously- went last week and £2.75 for a bottle of still water !!!! Piss take

It’s the shame he cinemas don’t realise that if they dropped their prices as bit to something more reasonable people would be more likely to spend their money there instead of elsewhere.

My brother and his friend once took a whole hot 16 inch deep pan pizza. Nobody said a word.

I'd imagine cinema chains do all kinds of studies on what people are prepared to pay for cinema snacks. They won't have picked the prices out of the air. The prices must be high because a significant amount of people are prepared to pay them. Enough people to give them a whopping profit.

The Cineworld local to me actively searches bags and you are not allowed any food or drink in not bought on the premises!

Last time I went we made popcorn st home first and took a Tupperware box in to share.
My LO loved the excitement of making it first.
Also took him a foot shoot from the cupboard and a drink for me.
Was fab

Our cinema is facing Poundland, quick trip in there for snacks, poacher's jacket, pot of big pockets to take it all in!
Popcorn, vomit-in-a-bucket!

I always take snacks to the Odeon or showcase as it’s ridiculously expensive (for both tickets and snacks!!) but there is a little, independent, one screen cinema near us that’s way cheaper than these and they ask that you support the local business and not take your own snacks in, so we don’t, but the amount of money that we save on tickets means we can treat ourselves in there.

I always bring in a few cans of gin and tonic and bag of popcorn. Odeon can fuck off if they think I am paying their prices.

Cineworld allow you to take your own snacks!

Cineworld allows you to take in your own snacks so shouldn't be searching bags. It says on their website. No hot food/drinks though.

Our Cineworld does not allow you to take your own snacks. They send staff members in to every screen, randomly but you can guarantee at least one visit for every screening. They walk up and down the aisles actively looking for people who are eating their own snacks.

Well my youngest is Coelaic so surely they can't begrudge me taking a gluten free cookie in with us. Seems really petty actively searching bags.

YABU to "sneak" food in since most British cinemas are OK with snacks nowadays. I think they realised it's not worth making a fuss over and discouraging people from coming. Just don't take hot food or anything stinky. And do the theatre staff a favour and bin or neatly bag your rubbish.

YANBU!

I always take my own snacks- bottle of water, crisps or popcorn and big bag of Haribo

Or if I go with a girlfriend who loves cinema too, we bring small bottles of wine or mixed G&T!

A pizza is a great Idea. Difficult to smuggle under a jumper though.

your Cineworld is going against their own policy - complain

" Alcohol and Food Policy: Neither alcohol nor hot food may be brought onto the premises. Only hot food bought on the premises may be consumed on the premises. Alcohol may only be purchased and consumed in Cineworld licensed bar areas or in licensed screens and licensing laws will be strictly enforced"

nothing about cold food, drinks or snacks

Take what you like but eat it quietly, no rustling or loud crunching, no whispering. Breathe quietly but no sniffing.

We always take our own snacks if going to one of the ‘chain’ cinemas. Our local independent cinema only charges £2.50 for a ticket, and asks that people buy snacks there to help keep prices low (they don’t stop people taking their own, though). In that situation I don’t mind buying snacks there at all (even if they are a bit expensive!).

I always take a couple of mini bottles of wine in and some nuts. No way am I paying Curzon/Picturehouse prices.

I agree, Cineworld website says that hot drinks and food aren't allowed. It never occurred to me not to take our own snacks in. We take water, popcorn in zip lock backs and sweets. Occasionally, we might buy DS ice cream.

My local Cineworld does allow hot drinks and own snacks. Definitely no searching or checking. It has a Starbucks in the lobby.

I’ve been to several daytime screenings where the audience is mostly made up of elderly couples eating packed lunches and enjoying a vat of takeaway coffee.