While most cinemas are fairly lenient about customers bringing in certain food and drink items, each cinema chain has its own set of rules, and what’s permitted can differ.
Taking your own food and drink on a trip to the cinema can make the outing more cost-effective. The price of popcorn, nachos and other snacks can quickly add up, especially if you’re taking the whole family along.
Vue, Odeon, Cineworld and Showcase all state that they allow customers to bring in their own snacks, although there are some exceptions detailed below. However, one rule that all the chains share is that they do not permit cinemagoers to bring their own alcohol.
While some cinemas now serve alcoholic beverages, bringing your own in is strictly forbidden. And one chain, Everyman, doesn’t allow customers to bring any food or drink along. Here’s what the major cinema chains have to say about their food and drink policies.
Odeon
Odeon cinemas prohibit you from bringing in heated food, strong-smelling food or alcoholic drinks from outside. The Odeon Islington Luxe and Dine also does not allow you to bring your own food.
Showcase
Similar to Odeon, Showcase cinemas do not allow customers to bring in hot food or alcoholic beverages. They’ve also implemented a ban on glass containers within their venues.
Vue
Customers are not permitted to bring or consume any hot food or alcohol bought outside of Vue cinemas. Like Showcase and Odeon, Vue cinemas say they offer a variety of food and drinks for sale.
Cineworld
At Cineworld cinemas, only hot food and alcohol purchased on-site can be consumed. While customers are not allowed to bring in their own hot food or alcoholic drinks, they are permitted to bring cold snacks and soft drinks to enjoy.
Everyman
Everyman cinemas have a similar policy, allowing only food and drinks bought at the cinema to be consumed in their screens. All Everyman locations feature fully licensed bars and offer both hot and cold food options.