Do cinemas have the right to search you?

[Hibbyradge]

Mrs R and I decided to partake in a bit of a filmathon today - we saw 3; Wall street 2, 7/10, Despicable me- 6.5/10 and Made in Dagenham 9.5/10 (reviews will be posted in the social group soon) - and we took stuff to drink with us which we had bought at a reasonable price elsewhere. As you do.

I had heard previously than folk had been searched going into cinemas in the UK and it struck me that this practice May actually be illegal.

Does anyone know if they are allowed to do this?

[Twa Cairpets]

Mrs R and I decided to partake in a bit of a filmathon today - we saw 3; Wall street 2, 7/10, Despicable me- 6.5/10 and Made in Dagenham 9.5/10 (reviews will be posted in the social group soon) - and we took stuff to drink with us which we had bought at a reasonable price elsewhere. As you do.

I had heard previously than folk had been searched going into cinemas in the UK and it struck me that this practice May actually be illegal.

Does anyone know if they are allowed to do this?

I seem to remember something on telly a year ago or so on one of the consumer programmes where they challenged the right of the cinemas to insist only food bought on the premises can be consumed - it turns out that if they claim that, they're talking bollox iirc.

[Bookkeeper]

Not been to 'the pictures' in ages. Would it be a condition written on the ticket that you're deemed to have accepted if you buy one? :dunno:

Otherwise, can't see how this would be legal.

[khib70]

Mrs R and I decided to partake in a bit of a filmathon today - we saw 3; Wall street 2, 7/10, Despicable me- 6.5/10 and Made in Dagenham 9.5/10 (reviews will be posted in the social group soon) - and we took stuff to drink with us which we had bought at a reasonable price elsewhere. As you do.

I had heard previously than folk had been searched going into cinemas in the UK and it struck me that this practice May actually be illegal.

Does anyone know if they are allowed to do this?
From Vue Cinema's ticket terms and conditions which you can see in full at
http://www.myvue.com/legal/

"18. Vue reserves the right to search guests and their possessions whilst on the premises."

And

"10. Hot food brought from outside of the cinema may not be consumed on the premises."

Doesn't say anything about drinks (except alcohol). I assume that you are deemed to have accepted these rules when you buy a ticket. It doesn't appear to oblige you to buy their overpriced carboard cups of Coke-flavoured ice, or their extortionate bags of sweeties, but you're stuck with their meat-style hot dogs and botulistic burgers.

Personally I would test them out by taking along several mates next time and consuming a large cold roast beef joint during the film, possibly with an assortment of salads on the side.. (I would slice it first, though - they're understandably not very keen on knives either)

[lyonhibs]

[QUOTE=khib70;2609737]From Vue Cinema's ticket terms and conditions which you can see in full at
http://www.myvue.com/legal/

"18. Vue reserves the right to search guests and their possessions whilst on the premises."

And

"10. Hot food brought from outside of the cinema may not be consumed on the premises."

Doesn't say anything about drinks (except alcohol). I assume that you are deemed to have accepted these rules when you buy a ticket. It doesn't appear to oblige you to buy their overpriced carboard cups of Coke-flavoured ice, or their extortionate bags of sweeties, but you're stuck with their meat-style hot dogs and botulistic burgers.

Personally I would test them out by taking along several mates next time and consuming a large cold roast beef joint during the film, possibly with an assortment of salads on the side.. (I would slice it first, though - they're understandably not very keen on knives either)[/QUOTE

:faf::faf: I'd love to see that group get hucked out:

"Aye, ok we're just coming. Just let us get our side of beef and casar salad and we'll be right with you"

Cinema prices are foul and ridiculous. If I'm feeling peckish, I always get a bag of sweeties and/or a bottle of juice from elsewhere.

[barcahibs]

We've got monthly passes to cineworld and often go in to watch two or three movies in a row. I don't think we've ever bought any food or drink from them as the prices are crazy and the food is foul.
If we're going for a movie marathon we'll usually nip along to the supermarket in the morning and get a load of goodies to take in with us. We just stick it in a carrier bag, make no attempt to hide it and no-one has ever tried to stop us going in.
We'll generally have a wee picnic before the movie starts cos obviously we're too considerate to be munching our sandwiches when the film's actually on :greengrin

I have twice seen people being stopped from going in at the Vue in Livingston but both times it was familys carrying big bags of McDonalds stuff. I think you're chancing it if you try to take hot food in. Both times they waited til the folk had already bought their tickets before telling them they couldn't go in which is a bit harsh.

Cineworld in Falkirk has recently started making you buy your film tickets from their food counters, I guess this is to try and encourage you to buy food, but is just really annoying as it really slows the queue down.

On the OP's actual point, the cinema doesn't have any right to search you, you can always refuse. However i would guess that if it says on the ticket that they may search you then they would have the right to refuse you entry or chuck you out if you don't consent to it.

[discman]

I seem to remember something on telly a year ago or so on one of the consumer programmes where they challenged the right of the cinemas to insist only food bought on the premises can be consumed - it turns out that if they claim that, they're talking bollox iirc.


Tend to agree,its like the signs "the management take no responsibilty for items left here" in nightclubs its bollox and...

Cinemas make more money from their concession stands than they do from ticket sales,strange but true :cool2:

[magpie1892]

Mrs R and I decided to partake in a bit of a filmathon today - we saw 3; Wall street 2, 7/10, Despicable me- 6.5/10 and Made in Dagenham 9.5/10 (reviews will be posted in the social group soon) - and we took stuff to drink with us which we had bought at a reasonable price elsewhere. As you do.

I had heard previously than folk had been searched going into cinemas in the UK and it struck me that this practice May actually be illegal.

Does anyone know if they are allowed to do this?

You're quite at liberty to refuse a search of bags etc. and there's nothing they can do about it but, if you refuse, they reserve the right of entry and they'll not let you in.

I am in foreign climes at present but I have a Cineworld card and used to go every day I wasn't at work. I frequently took in food and alcohol and have been searched a couple of times but if I have a tinny I just put it in the front pocket of my knapsack and they only check the body of the bag.

They did ask folk to leave their bags behind the ticket counter and that lasted about a day before the staff rebelled at having to fetch bags when there was an irate queue of people trying to buy tickets, etc.

[Future17]

On the OP's actual point, the cinema doesn't have any right to search you, you can always refuse. However i would guess that if it says on the ticket that they may search you then they would have the right to refuse you entry or chuck you out if you don't consent to it.

:agree:

Doesn't even matter if it says it on the ticket, a representative of the company which owns the premises can ask you to leave at any time (they would be expected to provide you with a reason for asking you to leave, but don't strictly have to....although this would leave them open to repercussions at a later date).

However, if it doesn't say otherwise on the ticket/t's & c's, and if you haven't committed a crime, you should be re-imbursed the cost of your ticket.