Costs putting people off cinema trips

Families end up spending even more on top of ticket costs, on average £9.76 extra with two children

The costs involved in a trip to the cinema are putting people off going to see films, according to a poll.

The average cinema trip costs £7.85 on top of the price of the ticket; once parking, food and drink are accounted for, the YouGov poll suggests.

The research also found costs on top of tickets were worse for families.

Those with two children spend £9.76 on average, while for three children it is £11.96.

Almost half (46%) of the 5,000 people questioned blamed costs for the reason for not going to the cinema and 30% cited on demand movies as making it easier to stay at home and watch a film.

YouGov's Vidisha Gaglani said cinema faced challenges on "a number of fronts"

She said: "Piracy and torrents of new movies are rife, television has arguably never laid down such a cinematic challenge, and squeezed film financing has led to more sequels and arguably less variety."

The research focussed on the associated costs of a visit to see a movie but the British Film Institute (BFI) said there has not been a dramatic drop in audiences in the UK.

There was a slight drop in numbers last year but generally audience sizes had plateaued over the past 10 years.

Tickets in central London, are among the most expensive in the country.

The price for a basic adult ticket at London's Leicester Square Vue Cinema is £14.65.

Paddington premiere, the film is now the highest grossing family movie in the UK and outside Hollywood

A family ticket (two adults and two children, or one adult and three children) is listed as £38.40 during off-peak times, but as £47.50 during peak times (after 5pm and at the weekends).

When the additional expense of 3D films, snacks and drinks is factored in, the costs are pushed even higher.

But the cinema experience of hot dogs and pricey popcorn is all part of the "cinema experience" said YouGov's Vidisha Gaglani.

"While cost keeps many people away from the pictures, it should be remembered that people go to the cinema because of the experience as much as they do because it is a practical way to see a film."

BFI research showed the average cost of a cinema ticket has risen by 26% in the past five years.