Revenge on the rip off cinemas! (Cineworld Unlimited Card)

Member Name: honey000

Product:	Cineworld Unlimited Card
Date:	29/01/09 (145 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great value for money, special advance screenings!

Disadvantages: Sometimes you see bad films

My husband and I have had Cineworld cards for over 5 years now (ok they were originally with UGC cinemas but Cineworld took them over and continued the offer). I originally bought the card when I used to visit the UGC cinema in Fulham with a very good friend. We would probably see a film either every week or every fortnight at a cost of £7.90per film. We soon realised that if we paid £12.99 a month (as it was priced then) so long as we went to three films in two months we saved money so both signed up. Since then the cost has gone up by £2 per month but so has the price of a single ticket for a film so you still only need to see three films in two months to save money!

So how does it work?

Well you sign up to the card and you pay a monthly fee of either £11.99 (for all Cineworld cinemas except central London) or £14.99 a month including Central London. The Central London cinemas are:
Trocadero (Piccadilly Circus)
Haymarket (Piccadilly Circus)
Chelsea (Kings Road)
Fulham (Fulham Road)

We used to pay for the central London cinemas but have worked out that we only go to ones outside Central London now so have reduced our outgoings by £3 per month each (a total of £72 between us). If you are going for the Central London option I would recommend thinking carefully about whether you will actually use them as £36 per year saving could be spent on other fun things!

What do you get?

As discussed above you get unlimited films for your money. You also get special discounts on food and drink in the cinemas. You also get invited to special preview screenings of films and you get to rate them afterwards. If you go to a Cineworld cinema and see a little yellow circle saying "recommended" on the poster / film times that is because unlimited card holders have seen it and given their views.

Upside

Well as you have paid for this by direct debit (or you can pay the whole year up front on a credit / debit card) you go to the cinema for nothing (at least it feels like that!!!) It is great if you need to save the pennies but still want to go out. You do find that you go and see lots of movies, well it is free - so films that you might want to see but dont want to pay £8 plus for you will go and see.

I have been to see some films that are so bad that I have walked out of them - again if you have not paid to see them you can do that without worrying!

I love the fact that you can use any Cineworld in the country. I work away a lot and have visited the cinema in Chester, Sussex, Manchester and Edinburgh all without paying!

Downside

WHen there is a drought of good films at the cinema and you dont go for ages (or you are on holiday / busy and cant make it) you feel that you are not getting value for money. Remember though if you see 18 films in a year you will probably have saved money.

If you buy lots of overpriced snacks at the cinema such as popcorn or drinks you still spend lots of money - but of course you can sneak in your own drinks and sweets if you are careful!

Overall

If you like going to the cinema and you live or work near a Cineworld cinema I would highly recommend this card.

Summary: A great offer for film lovers!