Is anyone still getting alerts? I've not seen anything for weeks.
Is anyone still getting alerts? I've not seen anything for weeks.
Member since:26.12.2005
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NOTE - THIS REVIEW RELATES TO CINEWORLD'S UNLIMITED CINEMA CARD RATHER THAN CINEWORLD IN TOTAL OR THEIR WEBSITE. I REQUESTED THIS TOPIC AND HAVE BEEN DIRECTED BY CIAO TO WRITE IT HERE SO PLEASE DON'T RATE IT AS OFF-TOPIC - IT'S THEIR FAULT NOT MINE. ************************************* I used to live in Suffolk not far from Bury St Edmunds. For many years there had been proposals to build a multiplex cinema and the fighting by both sides had been intense. In Suffolk the yes/no camps for a multiplex were as firmly entrenched as the yes/no campaigners for fox-hunting, adoption of the Euro or banning smoking in public places. The situation appeared intractable and so the only local cinema option was an inappropriately named ABC Cinema - I say inappropriate because it only had two small screens - more of an 'ab' than and 'ABC'.
The upshot of this was that seeing a film at a 'proper' cinema meant an hour's drive each way to either Braintree or Ipswich. So when I moved to Northamptonshire, the lure of not one but TWO multiplexes in spitting distance was too strong to resist. At that time, the UGC cinema was on my route home from the office and I found it very difficult to drive past and not drop in especially as I was in temporary 'digs' waiting for a house purchase to go through. The UGC became my second home.
The first time I visited I discovered the Unlimited scheme.
How it works *********** For just £10.99 a month (it was £9.99 when I joined nearly 2 years ago) you can go to the cinema as often as you want. It really is that simple. You can use your local cinema or any other Cineworld cinema, anywhere in the country - with the exception of the 4 West End Cinemas. The West End Unlimited deal is more expensive at £13.99 per month. I guess that's because the ticket prices are higher in the West End and they tend to get the films slightly earlier.
Signing Up ********* You can sign up for Unlimited at the cinema. It's
a good idea to pop in and do this at a quiet time as nobody will thank you for tying up the booking staff at 7 pm on a Saturday evening. They'll want some proof of identity and you'll need to fill in some forms. You'll also need to give bank details so that they can set up your direct debit. You will then have your photo taken and be given a temporary card that you can start to use straight away. This card expires after 28 days by which time you SHOULD have your new cards. We didn't as they had been sent from France and instead of going to Sudbury in Suffolk they went to Sudbury in Canada. After reporting the non-arrival of the cards to the helpline (in France), duplicates were sent and my husband and I ended up with 3 cards each, none of which seemed to work. Thanks to the local cinema staff who were very helpful, it all got resolved eventually and now everything goes very smoothly..
What else do you get? ****************** If you choose to, you get a fortnightly email from Cineworld telling you about current films and offers. I don't get this but I am signed up for weekly schedule alerts so I know what's on all the time.
They can also send you mailings on competitions, food and drink offers and special events - I elected not to receive these but they may be interesting for some people.
Is it good value? **************** This is a case where you have to make your own value. If you don't use it, your Unlimited card will just be an expensive piece of plastic. The more you use it, the better the deal - it's really that simple.
But, to help you assess the benefits, here are the normal prices: Evening films - after 6 pm - full price adult ticket is £6.30. So see two films a month and you are quids-in Films starting before 6 pm are just £3.60 which I think is fantastic value - so if you like to go off peak you need to see 4 films each month to get the advantage. Tuesdays are £3.50 all day I think Orange customers also get some kind of special deal on Wednesdays OAPs, Students and proper unemployed folks (ID needed by all) are just £4.30 in the evenings - so they'll need to see 3 films a month to get good value.
So, if you have lots of spare time and can go off peak, or if you are in one of the reduced-entry groups, you may be able to do your viewing for less on a pay as you go. But if you are a full-fee, evening viewing, film-hog who loves nothing more than to go into the cinema at 11 in the morning and come out 5 days later reeking of pop-corn and looking pale, this is the best bargain you'll ever get and it beats hiding in the toilets or behind the seats and sneaking between screens.
What can't you do with Unlimited? *************************** Normal customers (i.e. non-cardholders) can phone ahead or go online to book seats for big new releases. This would be handy if a blockbuster is coming out and you really want to see it. As far as I know, Unlimited card holders can't pre-book seats remotely but there's nothing to stop you popping in beforehand and getting your tickets at the cinema.
You can't transfer the tickets - well, in theory you might get away with it if you popped in early and bought the tickets with your card, gave the tickets to friends who then turn up later to use them. You might get away with it but the staff might ask to see your cards and then you'd be scuppered. I've never been tempted to try it.
Living with Unlimited ****************** Sunday morning, raining, can't quite face the ironing pile - pop down to the cinema and you'll probably have the place to yourself. I've been several times when I got my own personal screening and the whole place to myself.
Monday evening, nothing on the telly and no DVDs you fancy on the shelf - off to the cinema.
Friends or family visiting who haven't seen a film in yonks - whisk them off to the cinema, especially useful if you've run out of things to say. (They'll have to pay as usual unless they have cards too).
Just been made unemployed and need a bit of total escape - nothing beats a good film and cinema is better than DVD. Escape your troubles for a couple of hours.
Just been dumped by your girlfriend/boyfriend and want to lie low for a while - go and hide at the cinema. Sneak in a packed lunch and stay all day. (I've just realised how SAD that looks).
Gone away for the weekend and made a mistake - nothing to do, keeps raining and you don't know anyone? Check out the local Cineworld and go hide from the weather.
When you have an Unlimited card you don't agonise over choosing which film to see - you just go and see them all.
When you have an Unlimited card if you get a crap film you can just walk out and go and see another - none of that painful 'I've paid so I'm going to stay and suffer to the end'.
If you are a ciao reviewer and you like reviewing films, Unlimited could be right up your street - just so long as there's a Cineworld 'just down the road'.
Perfect for….. ************* Film fans who go frequently and want to see EVERYTHING. Anyone who lives within 30 mins of a Cineworld cinema. Anyone who believes films are SO much better on a big screen and is already paying out more than 10.99 a month to have DVDs sent to them by one of the many DVD clubs
OK, YOU CAN STOP NOW IF YOU WANT TO BECAUSE THAT'S IT FOR THE DETAIL ON THE SCHEME BUT IF YOU KEEP READING THERE'S A BIT MORE ABOUT CINEWORLD.
Cineworld ********* UGC is now part of Cineworld - an international cinema group with 79 cinemas in the UK, Ireland and Jersey. UGC was previously French owned which used to cause a few muddles but seems to be resolved now.
Bollywood *********** Cineworld are committed to showing Bollywood or 'Asian interest' films twice a week. This usually means a single film showing once on Sunday and again on Monday. I always intend to go but somehow I never quite get round to it but I'll be off tonight as they are doing Mistress of Spices with Aishwarya Rai
Disability Awareness **************** At my local cinema each screen has wheelchair access and wheel chair friendly spaces in the back row of the lower level of the cinema (i.e. before you get to the steps). They also do special showings of some of the films with subtitles for the hard of hearing or 'audio description' for the blind.
Range of Films ************ In any week Cineworld will show a broad range of films. There are usually 2-4 new introductions as well as 'previews' (films showing a few days before they go on full-time release). They have films categorised as 'customer recommendations' and 'kids recommendations' as well 'discovery' films which are recommended by Cineworld staff. Even during half term or the school holidays you can generally find something to see - especially later in the evening
Catering ******** Many Cineworld cinemas are located in out of town shopping/entertainment areas with lots of local food options - mostly not very healthy but that's life these days I suppose. Ours in Northampton has about 8 different eating options within a few minutes walk. They also have a bar and snack bar as well as all the usual popcorn and icecream stuff.
And finally…… *********** Just after we moved to Northampton in search of a better life and more cinema, Cineworld opened a multi-plex in Bury St Edmunds. Sods law isn't it!
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Just to add to my previous comment, I've checked on the website and it seems that prices vary by venue so one Cineworld charges more for the same afternoon performance/showing of a movie as another, so the prices might be correct but you'll have to check by venue on the site to be sure of the correct price info. for your area obviously!
IzzyS 24.08.2007 11:20
Good, informative review. Though as a bit of warning to others, I believe the ticket prices have changed. I was looking up the prices at my local Cineworld cinema through their website last night, the general ticket price for seeing a movie during the day (before 6pm) on Sunday they quoted on the site as being £5.20 not including the booking fee, whereas I believe you quoted £4 something... it must have changed since you posted the review, which is probably inevitable... so for anyone interested in this scheme I'd recommend you check the Cineworld site (Cineworld.co.uk) and look up the ticket prices there to make a realistic comparison, to decide if its worth the price of the card (like if it'll save you money), since the ticket prices are slightly different now... the site says that the Unlimited card is still £10.99 a month though, so thats still correct. Good review :-)
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May 15th, 2006
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