Unlimited films for £11.99 (Cineworld Unlimited Card)

Member Name: bilbob20

Product:	Cineworld Unlimited Card
Date:	22/10/08 (110 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It offsets itself after 2 visits per month

Disadvantages: If you're not using it, you're not getting the benefit

I first bought this in July of this year, by virtue of the fact that I was constantly going to the cinema. Guess what? I've been 4 times since. Paying for itself? Not now, it isn't. In theory, and in practice if you do practice, its a terrific idea. Pay a monthly subscription and you get to go see all the films you want. There are downsides, but I'll get to them in a moment.

Unlimited comes in two guises, as I recently found out on a trip to London. The one I have is £11.99, which allows me access to any film of my choice. I haven't discovered any limitations on it yet, and they certainly dont advertise any. So can we just assume for the moment that all is as it seems. The other option is a £14.99 one, and I will explain what that is about in a second.

The £11.99 is paid by direct debit if you choose to do it on a monthly payment plan, but you can also pay the yearly subscription upfront, which is £143.88. There is no discount for paying the annual amount, so there isn't really any enticement to do so. Fortunately, there isn't a minimum subscription. According to the terms and conditions, as long as you continue to pay the monthly fee, you are a member.

Now about that £14.99 pass. All the extra monthly fee gives you is access to a few West End cinema's in London. I recently went to the coldest cinema I have ever been, and they refused me entry with my card. I had to pay the disgraceful £9 fee again to get in to see a film that was so bad I would rather freeze to death with nothing on the screen. However, thats a minor complaint, given that I only see a film in London once every while. The cinema's you get extra access to are Shaftesbury Avenue, Fulham Road, Chelsea and Haymarket.

Unlimited is also introducing other offers with the card. You apparently get invites to advanced screenings every now and again, but I have to say that that hasn't yet been extended to me. There's nothing thusfar that I've been desperate to see a week in advance, but it would be nice to have the option given that it is an advert of the product. That also applies to the apparent food and drink offers.

However, in fairness, what the card does give you is 25% off the bill at Bella Italia restaurants during the current months. The offer ends on 30 November 2008, and there is no word on whether it will be extended or not. Take note though that its only available Sunday to Thursday.

The biggest asset in having one of these cards though is that it keeps the cost down for many cinema go-ers who frequent their local cinema. As there are various cineworlds throughout the UK, it also means that you're not limited to one branch. This card will pretty much allow you into any cinema. Individual tickets range from £6 to £8 depending on where you are, so the £11.99 charge will be offset after only 2 visits in a month. A nice saving if you are a regular.

What I would like to see with the unlimited card is savings on their extortianate drink and food bars. Everything is inhouse, so there is no excuse for charging in the region of £4 for drinks that come from one of those generic sodastream type machines. Nor is it really that acceptable to charge that amount for a pretty shoddy hot dog that probably smells like microwaved dog food. The cinema is probably more expensive for a soft drink than the airports or most reasonable hotels.

Come on cineworld, lead by example. If you bring your prices down you'll get more families affording to go to the cinema, and they'll also choose your cinema as opposed to the few competitors out there, who might be jolted into also lowering prices. I often say to friends who turn up with their juice and sweets from elsewhere that part of the fun of going to the cinema is getting their popcorn and drinks. Obviously they are doing their job well, if drongo's like me are paying £11.99 to go once a month on average, and £8 for a sausage in a roll and some bland lemonade.

In fairness to the card though, it is definately a winner for those of you who go to the cinema more than once a month.

Summary: A good price to see as many films as you want.