I am fortunate to live right next to a large Shopping Centre, that not only contains many good stores but is itself surrounded by many other retailers, restaurants, cinemas, etc.

My favourite attraction: the Cineworld multiplex.

Cineworld is Britain's second largest multiplex cinema operator in the United Kingdom, with 74 cinemas and over 800 screens.
It also has one cinema in Jersey and another in the Republic of Ireland.

Its first cinema opened in 1996, and the company has since integrated the UGC cinema chain.

I like the "ambiance" at my local Cineworld. There is another huge cinema complex down the road, and even though everything in it is more spacious (lobby, screen rooms, washrooms) and boasts a slicker, more sophisticated decor, it feels colder and less welcoming.
Cineworld, on the other hand, has an altogether more comfortable and comforting atmosphere.

Almost everything about Cineworld is warm and inviting:

- When entering the lobby, one is greeted by the aroma of popcorn and hot dogs and candy - Like a delicious embrace...
- The decor is in a warm tone of red and black. I like that it is darker than the rest of its surroundings.
- The chairs are comfortable.
- The sound is not too loud.
- The temperature: they sure don't save on the heating bills! Although today when I was there I noticed that they have set the air conditioning to a cooler level, to reflect the hot weather we have been having.
- The handy magazine "Unlimited", with film info (synopses, cast, photos, running times) and interviews.
- The complementary film posters we can pick up at the counter (not exclusive to Cineworld, but still nice).
- The toilets are always clean and tidy.

Well, I said "almost", so what's amiss?

- The. Prices.

Lay your eyes on this (and then avert them in horror):

Adult (after 5pm Fri, all day Sat-Sun & Bank Hols) £7.60
Adult (after 5pm Mon-Thurs) £6.90
Adult (before 5pm Mon -Fri) £4.90
Child (14 & Under) £4.70
Senior/Student £4.90
Delux Screen £1.00 over adult prices above
Bargain Tuesday £4.50
Bargain Delux £5.20
Monday Classic £3.00
Movies for Juniors (selected Sat am films) £1.00
Adult - additional £2.20 for 3D films
Child/Student/Senior/Bargain Tuesday - an additional £1.50 for 3D films
Adult Bargain Tuesday - an additional £2.20 for 3D films

Now, they are not the most expensive cinema tickets around - there are other cinema operators that charge more - but still, considering that the majority of films (and I say it as a cinema lover) are not very good, are utterly forgetable and less than 2 hours long, I can't help but think that there are better, cheaper ways out there to spend an hour and a half.

The food and drinks prices are even more risible:

- Any "combo" deal (popcorn/nachos/hotdog + drink) is over £6.
- The "Sharer combo" deal (1 regular popcorn + 2 regular drinks) is £8.25.

To be honest, this doesn't affect me personally, as I can and actually prefer to simply focus on watching the film and not be munching and drinking away while it is being screened.
I bought a bag of popcorn years ago. It cost me nearly £5, and I only managed to eat less than half of the popcorn.

Fortunately, there is a way around the ticket prices: If you go to the cinema (or would like to) more than twice a month, it pays to get the Unlimited Card.

Unlimited cards allow you to watch as many films as you wish (apart from the Delux screenings) for a set fee of £13.50 per month. It is a 12-month contract, so you are effectively paying £162 per year in cinema, but that includes as many viewings as you wish.

It is cheaper than many DVD rental memberships, and you get the enhanced pleasure of watching the films in a cinema screen.

The £13.50 membership excludes London West End Cinemas (Chelsea, Fulham Road, Haymarket and Shaftsbury Avenue). To include those cinemas, the membership will cost you £16.5 per month (£198 annually).

Unlimited Card members also get a weekly email newsletter, special deals on refreshments, exclusive competitions and invitations and discounted tickets to Cineworld Exclusive Advance Screenings, festivals and events.

You can sign up for an Unlimited Card in person or online.

If you are buying tickets, you can buy them on the day, or you can reserve them in advance in person, by telephone or online. Unlimited Card holders cannot reserve seats in advance.

All the films being screened at any particular Cineworld cinema are listed along with their screening times on screens above the box office, on line (each cinema has its own page) and on leaflets that can be found in the cinema's lobby.

Cineworld offers a range of facilities:
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Advance screenings: You can see films at Cineworld before they are on general release.

Digital: Cineworld have the largest number of digital projectors in the UK - for live sport, live opera, interactive gaming and corporate presentations.

3D: Cineworld has a partnership with Real D to show some films in 3D.

VIP: Only at selected Cineworld Cinemas. A glass box with privately controlled sound system and between 12 - 20 seats.

Delux: Prices include extra-comfortable chairs with lots of leg room, arm rests, lift up and reclining seats, as well as bar service and reserved seating.

Movies for Juniors: £1 tickets for children and adults, Movies for Juniors shows 3 recent children's films on Saturday mornings. Check your local cinema for the weekly lineup.

Parking: There is off street parking close to most cinemas (except the Chelsea, Fulham road, Haymarket and Shaftesbury Avenue ones).

Disabled access: Wheelchair spaces, removable seats, ramps, lifts. This is not available at all cinemas, however, as some of the older cinemas cannot be modified, due to planning restrictions.

There is restricted access to the following:

- Restricted access to certain screens: Fulham Road (0207 370 2110); Hammersmith (0208 748 2388); Shaftesbury Avenue (0207 434 0032) - You can call them on those numbers to ask for more details.

- Restricted access to the Café Bar: Harlow

- No access to the cinema by wheelchair: Chelsea and Haymarket

Disabled parking: Available near most cinemas (except Chelsea, Fulham Road, Haymarket, Nottingham, Shaftesbury Avenue, Dublin, Glasgow Renfrew Street, Hammersmith, Ilford, Staples Corner).

Subtitled screenings: Subtitles are separately displayed at the bottom of the cinema screen to help viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing to follow the dialogue.

Guide dogs: allowed at all times in all Cineworld cinemas.

Audio description: Audio description (a narrated soundtrack). Ask at the Box Office for a headset and you will be able to listen to an additional audio commentary that describes what is happening on screen.

Venue hire for corporate or private viewings. Contact your local Cineworld for details and prices (they have a sliding scale of prices for different sized groups).

So I am giving Cineworld 4 stars. It could be 5, but since one has to be tied down to a 12-month subscription in order to get value for money, it's only 4.

I highly recommend this cinema operator to anyone with an Unlimited Card, or as an occasional treat for those without one.
Otherwise, just walk into the lobby, take a deep breath, fill your lungs with the warm, sweet air, and then walk away for the sake of your wallet.*

* Willpower required.