An Australian mother of three was humiliated after she was almost thrown out of her local cinema after bringing snacks for her picky children.
Anita took her children to Cinebar Coolangatta on the Gold Coast during the recent school holidays to see a screening of Wild Robot.
The family-owned theater describes itself as an “affordable Gold Class alternative” to chain movie theaters and offers full-service food and refreshments.
However, its strict policy against outside food has upset some customers, with Anita arguing that her picky children had specific dietary needs.
The mother was told she would have to leave her bag of snacks at the front desk during the movie or leave the premises without a refund.
“I’ve been to this movie theater several times and have always bought popcorn and a drink combo, plus brought my own bottle of water in my bag from home with no problems,” Anita said. news.com.au.
“I learned on previous visits with my three young children that there are limited options for picky eaters who also have dietary needs, so on this particular visit I had a small snack: a handful of dairy-free M&Ms and a snack pack of Hamburger Rings : in my bag, along with water. I also intended to buy a popcorn and drink combo.
Several other customers who have had disputes with Cinebar Coolangatta over outside food shared their experiences in Google reviews.
Queensland mother-of-three Anita faced expulsion from Cinebar Coolangatta (pictured) after trying to bring food from outside for her picky children.
Margaret, a 75-year-old grandmother, was “disgusted” when cinema employees confiscated her grandchildren’s candy before watching a film during the Easter school holidays.
‘What has the world come to?! From now on I’ll go somewhere else. What a performance with a little candy for my grandchildren,” he wrote.
Another customer, K Raw, said his experience was “very disappointing.”
“I felt pressured to buy their expensive food and drinks, and was persistently asked by a staff member if I was going to make a purchase,” they wrote.
‘When I mentioned that I could come back later, he demanded to search my bag.
‘To my dismay, he found a raspberry lemonade, which is my son’s favorite treat. He took it from us, making the situation extremely uncomfortable and embarrassing.
“I would rather spend a little more money and buy Gold Class tickets to Event Cinemas, where the staff are friendly.”
Cinebar CEO Dave Taylor defended the strict policy, saying The rules are clearly displayed before customers buy tickets, online or at the cinema.
Cinebar Coolangatta’s strict policy against outside food has made some customers uncomfortable and they vow never to return (file image)
“As a local family business, we are sensitive to the cost of living issues of Queenslanders, which is why we offer family saving deals such as four tickets for $49,” he said.
Taylor added that the theater offers freshly prepared meals that meet a variety of dietary requirements, including gluten-free meals.
Despite some complaints about the strict food policy, which is common in the industry with giants like Hoyts and Event Cinemas enforcing similar rules, the Coolangatta theater still has a high rating.
Several of his clients came to the cinema’s defense, citing cheap tickets and high-quality service.
‘Cinebar has great ticket prices with reclining seating and offers a great experience for families. Eat before or after or pay more for a crappier, fuller seat somewhere else if you don’t like the rules,” said one.
Another asked customers to show “respect” for the place’s rules.
