Who should pay?

[JollyGiraffe]

Friend 1 messages Friend 2 to say they have a spare ticket to the cinema. Their partner is too busy with work to come, and other friends can't go so they ask if Friend 2 will go with them. Friend 1 is aware that Friend 2 doesn't like the genre of the film (and hasn't seen the first one in the series), but Friend 2 agrees to come.

Both Friends have similar amounts of disposable income. Each ticket costs £7.50.

Would you expect Friend 1 to pay for both, or for Friend 2 to reimburse Friend 1 the cost of their ticket?

I think I would expect for Friend 2 to offer to pay for the ticket, but for Friend 1 to say, "oh no, don't be silly, it's on me."

I think friend 2 should bring snacks/ buy snacks in lieu of the ticket price

I'd go halves?

Friend 1 has already paid for both, right? So I wouldn’t expect them to expect Friend 2 to reimburse them. But Friend 2 might buy the popcorn as a nice gesture.

I would expect friend 2 to get the snacks in.

I would assume friend 2 just pays for food.....

However if friend one had a spare ticket that was going to go to wast had friend 2 not stepped in then friend 1 foots the bill. She would be down 7.50 either way.

As an aside 7 quid is a stupid amount to argue over.

I agree with OhDearGod.

Friend 1 should pay since it's a spare ticket they've already bought, but if I was friend 2 I would at least offer to reimburse them.

Ticket has already been paid for so I don’t think friend 1 should accept payment . I’m assuming friend 1 wouldn’t go on their own so at least this way they see the film.
Friend 2 should pay for any snacks/ drinks .

It would depend on how the invite was framed, the personalities of the people involved and the background of the friendship.

With some of my friends I would expect to cover the cost of the ticket, with others I would offer to pay but expect them to say not to worry about it( I would then cover the cost of popcorn or a drink).

If i was friend 2 i would offer the money. If friend 1 said no its ok i would pay for the popcorn etc

I wouldn't argue over 7 pounds

What would happen here is that friend 2 would ask if they could give friend 1 the money for the ticket. Friend 2 would say, “Not at all, thanks for coming with me at short notice.” Friend 2 buys the popcorn or whatever. The end.

If it was a film Friend 2 wanted to see, them Friend 2 should pay.

As Friend 2 isn’t interested and is effectively doing Friend 1 a favour by accompanying them, then Friend 1 should cover it.

If it was me I’d discuss it in advance though, to make sure there was no misunderstanding.

If I was friend 2 I would fully expect to pay for the ticket and wouldn’t take no for an answer. It’s a silly amount to argue over and if you’re using the ticket, you pay for the ticket. Having said that, if I was friend 1 I wouldn’t ask for it from friend 2.

Friend 2 will probably end up spending more money on popcorn and snacks than the price of the tickets!
Friend 2 shouldn’t have to reimburse price of tickets, especially as film not even their genre!

I wish our cinema was 7.50.

For friends, I'd think either option is fine. Life is too short to worry about it.

Yeh I agree with most of the previous posters

Friend 2 should offer, but friend 1 should say no it’s on me, thanks for joining me at short notice

MoistCantaloupe this is in central London..!

I'd say 'shall I bring snacks?' Or 'I'll treat you next time we go'

I would reply if friend 2, that oh you know that is not my thing but I happy to come along if you're on your own. Shall I get some popcorn in?

Mind you, I accompanied a friend to see a band where the tickets were 10 x that amount but her dh couldn't go. I did offer but she said, no the money was spent anyway and she was glad someone could go with her.

Friend 1 should pay, they invited friend 2 initially unless they asked if friend 2 wanted to buy the ticket? I'd offer though and/get the snacks.

Are the tickets normally 7.50 or was some sort of discount code used? Tesco vouchers etc only asking cause full price where I am it's around £11 and I'm no where near london

Also if it's part 2 of what I am thinking friend 2 was shafted as you really needed to have seen part 1 and part 2 was very slow and a infill ready for part 3. If this wasn't friend 2 genre either then I feel for them. Was a good film but you need to enjoy the type and have seen part 1 and others that go with it.

Friend 1 should pay for tickets or should have just gone alone. Friend 2 should have laid it out and said it's not my type but if you have already paid then sure I'll come and keep you company