CITY MOVIE TICKETS ARE DEAREST IN THE COUNTRY
Fans pay £7 more than at most other Vue venues
A cinema chain is charging film fans in Stirling more for movie tickets than anywhere else in Scotland.
Those who go along to the Vue cinema in Forthside are paying up to £7 more for a ticket than movie-goers attending the same cinemas in Aberdeen, Hamilton, Livingston and Inverness – with prices in Edinburgh and Glasgow also cheaper than Stirling.
Stirling MSP Bruce Crawford said he has written to the chief executive of Vue Cinemas to call for a review of their pricing in the city.
The Observer was alerted to the varying ticket prices by a reader who last weekend attended the movies in both Edinburgh and Stirling.
She said that it cost £17.48 for two VIP tickets to see ‘Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again’ at the Vue at Edinburgh’s Omni Centre on Friday night.
But when she went to see ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ at the Stirling cinema on Sunday evening she was charged £29.48 for the same tickets.
She said that after complaining to the cinema chain she was sent a response in which they said they had a “dynamic pricing policy” across all locations and priced tickets, food and drink differently from cinema to cinema.
She told the Observer: “I don’t know
if this is common knowledge but I was shocked at the price difference. Fair enough, had it been one or two pounds extra – but it was six pounds a ticket.
“You would expect maybe central London to be more expensive, and airports probably, but I don’t see why people in Stirling are being charged more. I think it’s pretty poor.
“You wouldn’t expect to pay more for a McDonalds, a Costa or to go to Aldi or Lidl so why is it different for cinema tickets?”
After hearing the complaints the Observer decided to compare prices for tickets to see ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ on a Wednesday evening at each Vue Cinema in the country.
Stirling was the most expensive at £12.74 for one standard adult ticket and £14.74 for a VIP ticket, followed by Glasgow with prices at £10.79 and £12.29.
Prices in Edinburgh, at the Omni Centre and Ocean Terminal, were third most expensive at £6.74 for a standard adult ticket and £8.74 for VIP.
In Hamilton and Aberdeen tickets are £5.74 and £7.24 for a VIP upgrade and in Livingston and Inverness adult prices are £5.74 and VIP tickets are £7.74.
Stirling MSP Mr Crawford expressed his concern at the fact movie-goers in Stirling are being given a raw deal.
He said: “I am surprised that local Vue cinema ticket prices are being charged at such a high rate, especially when compared to the rest of the country.
“There is absolutely no reason whatsoever for Stirling Vue to be the most expensive in Scotland.
“Cinemas continue to play an important role in providing social activity and in supporting the film industry. As the culture of how we watch movies has evolved, with more people streaming movies and television than ever before, cinemas need to do all they can to keep people coming back.
“I have now written to the chief executive of Vue Cinemas to raise my concerns about this situation and to call for a review on their pricing in Stirling.”
Stirling MP Stephen Kerr added: “Dynamic pricing policy sounds like a fancy name for simply charging more for the same event and the statement from the company is not good enough.
“They should explain, in detail, why people in Stirling are having to pay more for the same ticket.
“This is hardly going to encourage more people to use their Stirling cinema. Going out to see a film for a family can be an expensive trip anyway but why should it cost even more in this area?”
A Vue spokesperson said: “In common with many retail and leisure businesses, Vue operates a dynamic pricing policy.
“Every site has a range of fixed and variable costs that must be taken into account when determining prices in their local market.
“To ensure everyone can enjoy the big screen experience at all of our locations we are committed to providing customers with discounted ticket opportunities and offers, including Super Mondays and Mini Mornings.”