Movie-goers paying more at Shropshire multiplex cinemas

Large cinemas in Shropshire are cashing in on their customers by charging up to 137 per cent more for food and drink than local shops.

Smaller, independent cinemas, however, charge lower prices for both tickets and refreshments.

A new survey shows that the cost of tickets, fizzy drinks, popcorn and other snacks in Shropshire cinemas is much higher at the county's two large multiplex venues, than at smaller ones in market towns.

The cost of a ticket, large drink and large popcorn at one county cinema is £15.60 but people can enjoy a film with a drink and large snack for just £6 elsewhere.

Visitors also have to stump up for pay-and-display car parking charges if they travel to some county cinemas.

The highest ticket price locally is £7.85 at the Odeon, in Telford, which charges the fee for peak-time movies. The next highest admission charge is £7.50 at Cineworld, in Shrewsbury, while The Old Market Hall, in Shrewsbury, charges £7.

The lowest price for a peak-time film is £4 at the Festival Drayton Centre, in Market Drayton. Other small cinemas charge similar prices, with Ludlow Assembly Rooms billing customers £5 and Pola Cinema, at Welshpool, charging £4.20.

The cost of refreshments also varies widely with the Odeon and Cineworld charging £3.25 and £3.20 for a large drink. The equivalent price at local supermarkets for a large fizzy drink is just £1.37 - giving cinemas a huge 137 per cent mark-up.

The cost of sweets and snacks at large cinemas is also much higher than at smaller cinemas and local supermarkets.

A 150g bag of Mars Planets costs £2.70 at Cineworld, compared with £1.73 at supermarkets — a mark up of 56 per cent. Other sweets and chocolates are similarly expensive.

Independent cinemas are undercutting their larger rivals by selling refreshments at much lower prices. Some smaller cinemas also offer homemade cake and other refreshments.

A spokesman for Festival Drayton Centre said he was proud of the venue's low ticket prices and added: "Our cinema can easily compete with the big names. This is very much a 'home grown' venue that is owned by the community. We have a licensed coffee shop and 90 volunteer staff."