Cinema charging seems to vary wildly from cinema to cinema, and for no obvious rhyme or reason either. On a recent trip down to Portsmouth, I attended four cinemas in the local area. The small and old 3 screen affair in Cosham (believe it was once a Carlton?), the brand spanking new Fareham Apollo, Port Solent UCI and the Gunwharf Quays Vue.
The Vue was very expensive, but it had lovely screens and was very clean and tidy. Price aside, it was a joy to watch a film there.
The former Cosham Carlton was very much the "local fleapit"... but it had a very cheap price and whilst a lot had been left to rot, everything that mattered was OK. Film quality was very good, but the sound took a while to get used to - it was a funny mixture of being muffled and tinny.
UCI Port Solent. Unlike Vue, I thought this was not only expensive, but very bad value for money. At near enough the same price, the screens were old and tired, dirty and the allocated seating meant that whilst many entire rows were free, people were paraded into spare seats in occupied rows even once the film had started, annoying everyone. Won't go there again.
Best was the Fareham Apollo.