A vue good deals (Vue Cinema (Plymouth))

Member Name: jamiebeck

Product:	Vue Cinema (Plymouth)
Date:	13/07/09 (214 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good seats, 15 screens

Disadvantages: the prices of food and drinks

Vue cinema, Plymouth, is located on the Barbican Industrial Estate near Plymouth's Marina. The estate also hosts other really good venues such as Nandos, Oceana, Pizza Hut, a Gym, Frankie and Bennys and other bars/restaurants.

The cinema consists of 15 Screens and can seat upto 3315 people; I have frequented this cinema many a time whilst I was a student of Plymouth for 3 years. As you enter the cinema you confronted with a large ticket booth which is rarely used, past that and you get the large concessions bar where you can purchase a large selection of over priced drinks.

The concessions stand hosts a variety of food, drink and snacks. The vue, like many cinemas have a number of deals where you can purchase a hot dog and a large drink for £5.50 (for example) or popcorn and drink deals. The snacks selection ranges from nachos (with or without jalapenos), sweet, salted or toffee popcorn, popcorn, boxed sweets such as maltesers and revels, ice cream such as ben and jerry's, pic n mix and crisps. Drinks consist of coca-cola, fanta, fanta still, 7up, a slush puppy-type concoction, bottled waters, tea and coffee. All are grossly overpriced and is a typical example of the unnecessary prices 99% of cinemas offer today. Sweets are double what they are in a shop and no different, the drinks are 60% full of ice and the smallest size is pretty much a bucket. Almost all staff are trained to 'upsell' which is simply pushing on the 'deals' such as "would you like a large for an extra 10p?", most upsells are based around you thinking you have taken a good deal when all that has happened is you have paid too much for something you most likely wont even finish.

The seating is very good, with rows that are perhaps a little more steeper than your average cinema and the seats are all the same price. This is refreshing compared to places like the Odeon where you have to pay even more than the average price of £10 just so your neck isn't strained. I have been a few times just as a film is about to start and my group and I have had to go to the front of the cinema as there were no other seats, at the vue Plymouth, this hasn't been too bad considering how close you are the screen, other people may disagree though.

Another pet hate of mine at cinema's is the lack of regulation with staff and possible disturbers of the peace, yes I'm talking about annoying teenagers and their insistence to joke around and talk loudly during films. What annoys me even further is when cinemas are too scared to assert their authority and throw these people out. The Vue, Plymouth, however, I have not had one of these experiences and hopefully never will. This could due to luck but I would like to say that this is because of a good staff prescence - I have definately noticed when staff pop their head in on a film just to check the crowd are behaving.


The Vue, Plymouth, has many offers, the most popular probably being the orange Wednesdays where you can 2 for 1 when you text 'film' to 241. I have definately used this offer on a few occassions without a hitch. Another favourite of mine is using nectar points, it's around 1000 points to see a film at any time, any day at a Vue cinema and despite the staff being occassionally baffled we are usually able to use it now and again. It is also one of the best nectar offers in terms of value for money. There are also discounts for students (NUS card), servicemen/women, OAPS and kids.

All in all this is a pretty good cinema, no one can criticise the size of the place and i have never experienced a totally sold out night, suggesting there is plenty to accomodate everyone. The food is grossly over priced and should be illegal but then all cinemas do this and it beats the Odeon in price (around £6 per adult on a night without discount) and in even seating choices.

Summary: a pretty good cinema