Most people are really secretive about sneaking tasty snacks in – but it turns out you don’t need to be – with one or two exceptions
Image: Peter Harbour – Yorkshire Live)
Smuggling your own snacks past the staff at the cinema is a pastime many can all relate to – we’ve all been there.
It feels like such a win to covertly inch your way past them without having your bags checked for contraband, but why do we do it?
Cinema prices being the main reason.
“HOW MUCH for a bag of popcorn?” you’ll often hear from the parents.
So supermarket-bought snacks it is, often at a fraction of the cost. And sneaking them in seems to be something many of us are guilty of.
But are we really guilty? Is it really such a problem taking your own snacks to the cinema? Is it strictly forbidden or merely frowned upon?
2Chill decided to find out and actually, many of them allow it, all except one.
While Odeon declined to comment, information on its website advises: “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.”
(
Image:
Graham Young – Birmingham Mail)
Although not all food has been given the green light, anything ‘heated’ or ‘pungent’ is not allowed, nor is alcohol.
Vue and Cineworld take a similar stance. No alcohol and no hot food.
But there is one venue that has a blanket ban on bringing your own snacks. Everyman.
Its website states: “We sell a range of hot and cold, savoury and sweet snacks in our fully licensed bars within all of our venues. Please note that only food and drink bought within the cinema is allowed to be taken into the screen.”
So besides splashing out for a more luxury experience at Everyman, where you can actually order food to your seat, why do many of us continue to act all cloak and dagger when taking our own snacks?
It’s got people thinking about other cinema etiquette. What are the unwritten rules of going to the cinema?
Wondering where to eat, drink or visit for your next UK holiday? At 2Chill we help you decide where to go and stay next with hundreds of recommendations right on your doorstep.
Visit our brilliant new website 2chill.co.uk and start packing.
If you’d also like weekly inspiration and advice for your next trip, you can sign up to the Chill newsletter here.
For the latest must-have travel news follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
1. No smelly food
People don’t want to smell you eating your dinner in the back seat. And crisps munchers can be the most irritating.
2. Do not go to sleep, and if you do, definitely no snoring
Why spend money on tickets for a film you’re not actually going to watch? And whether you’re extremely tired or just finding the film a bore, keep the snoring to the bedroom.
3. Respect personal space
Although sitting next to someone else can’t be helped if it is a full screening, that doesn’t mean everyone wants to be friends when the film is a little less popular.
When the screen is practically empty, don’t sit next to people, or risk irritating them.
4. Don’t be late
Late-comers can be a real frustration, especially when you’re on the aisle seat.
People really don’t want to keep moving just as the film starts.
5. Put your phone on silent
This really shouldn’t need to be said. And it’s less of an unspoken rule as there’s plenty of reminders pre-screening.
Put your phone on silent.