Cineworld Cinemas

I found the cinema itself to be sub-​par relative to other Edinburgh cinemas in terms of safety, cost, quality, and value. The pay-​as-​you-​go parking garage below is more or less a must for drivers in terms of accessing the cinema with convenience, but I didn’t feel safe there. I had one incident with some intoxicated youths in the parking garage. I had another unprovoked incident with a very aggressive driver. As far as the cinema goes, the washrooms smelled of methane or ammonia during all of my visits. The food was relatively poor quality and parts of the business (e.g. bar area) are worn and ugly by current standards. Moreover, I had problems accessing the cinema’s service on one notable occasion. I had my card and online ticket receipt, but my guest did not happen to have her membership card at the time. It took a considerable amount of time to prove that my guest also had a membership card, because the needed data was not readily accessible in their computer system. Obviously, this is not the norm in our society with the use of membership cards (e.g. gyms, libraries, etc.). Moreover, I rarely used the membership after the first few months; so, the total cost associated with the few times that I did access the cinema’s services, assuming we are comparing that with normal non-​member fees, would be far less than the total membership costs paid in total. Moreover, when I signed up for this service, because I was persuaded of it’s merits by Cineworld, I did not know that extra fees would be incurred. For instance, when ordering tickets online, there is a fee. When wanting access to the 3D Imax, there are extra fees. Moreover, when at the cinema, and picking seats at the vending point (to avoid online fees), all the best seats were taken in advance; however, during those same films no one was sitting in the supposedly (many) reserved seats. I find this curious and it only seems to me that Cineworld was not giving best access with membership cards. For instance, there were far too many reserved seats without occupants, on too many occasions, for this to be easily explained away. I do, however, suspect that members do not get full access to the best seats all the time thru their memberships, especially when getting tickets off-​line. Of course, I could have switched seats during the firm. However, they should understand that this nuisance isn’t what I want or need in general. In sum, there were too many unforeseen quality issues that were not made apparent before signing up for the membership card. Overall, the service and associated services are a let down relative to other cinemas in Edinburgh and compared with others that I have visited here in the UK. Last, the cinema seems to attract a large of number of young people, and this was not made apparent upfront either. Why does it matter? The problem is that these people tend to have norms which make watching the film less comfortable for myself and my guests. In short, its where kids often go to watch films, but I don’t want or need to be in that majority crowd. In general, the membership isn’t worthwhile for me, and I feel that I was tricked into it by Cineworld’s marketing. Last, when I was planning on moving away I stopped paying and stopped going. They sent me to collections. In the end, I paid for services that I didn’t even use and that were also suspended. I wouldn’t advise getting into a contract with these people.

Well i am a fan! I got the yearly pass and get to see as many movies as i think that since getting it, i have never watched so many movies at the theatre! Considering how much it cost to get this card, i already got my money worth! + you get 10%of food and drinks if you spend more than £5 at the concession stand; you also get to view movies before everyone else on selected movies; this place as many room, conveniently localted near a few places to grab a bite before or after and have a large selection of viewings; i have never had any bad experience with the staff;

It has made such a difference being able to book cineworld tickets in advance for card holders.
And the mice problems are all sorted. Hurrah!

It’s a cinema. Quite difficult to review, really.
Cineworld is a big cinema in the West of Edinburgh. The screens are large, and generally comfortable. A student ticket to see a movie is £6.90, which I consider quite a lot of money, but it stacks up well compared to other cinemas in the city.
How I miss Orange Wednesdays!
Of course, snacks and drinks are crazily expensive, like anywhere, but a plus for this Cineworld is the presence of Starbucks on the first floor. It has a nice selection of cakes and hot and cold drinks. Across the road is a Sainsbury’s, where you can buy snacks as well (but keep them well hidden from the cinema authorities!).
Overall, a good, comfortable cinema, with a lot of screens and thus a lot of movies.

Huge theatres lots of seats, tons of showing theatres. Free parking for 4 hours redeemed when buying tickets. There are some restaurants in the movie theatre block, And there is a Starbucks in the Ticketing area! 2D and 3D movies available! Comfortably seats. Ya its a good place to see a movie!

Not a bad Cineworld, as Cineworlds go.
These big multiplexes are never going to have the charm of an indie cinema, but they know what their business is and sell it well. A good range of movies, including limited release stuff and ‘event screenings’ for a fairly standard price I guess (I can’t be the only one who balls at cinema prices in general, can I?)
I’ve generally found the staff helpful & polite, although now they’ve introduced booked seats more of the staff really need to let you see the screen when you’re picking a seat — location is important.
What else? Always seems clean, if a little busy/​messy. Maybe not an aspirational venue, but not one to avoid either.

Standard blockbuster cinema with 13 theaters. The yearly deal is awesome and if you get somebody to reference you you get a 13^th month for free. Happy to have this around the corner, although I would prefer a more cozy theater, but for the deal we’re happy to be able to go anytime we want at no extra cost than 16.40 a month!

I think technically speaking I would rate Cineworld Cinemas on Fountainbridge a solid 3.5 stars. It’s all well and good – clean, solidly large viewing screens, etc., but aside from that it doesn’t really have much of an «umph» to bump it up a notch into a fabulous movie-​going experience.
Of course, there are some definite pros. For starters, you get to select your seats, which is something I was unfamiliar with coming from America (it’s basically a free-​for-​all every time there, which can end up with you arriving late and only being able to see about 8 pixels on the front row). But at Cineworld you can see the theater room and select where you’d like to go, which works out quite well!
You can also get unlimited movie passes for a pretty reasonable monthly fee. Not only that, but there are special showings of certain films like the predecessors of trilogies and the like, special kids’ events, and showings of theatre acts and international films.
All in all, not a bad theater, but not the most razzle-​dazzle one either. A perfectly perfunctory movie-​going experience!

Oi oi! This cinema is so cheap… maybe I’m just used to London prices eh! I got a student ticket, a large salted popcorn and a large coke for £13!!! Unreal. And was in screen 13… ooooh…

As a venue I like the Cineworld. They have big screens, wide open spaces and the occaisional première. Also their location is not too bad. Smack in the middle of other entertainment and restaurants.
They are easy to reach as the buses 1, 34 & 35 arrive with regular intervals taking you back and fro to the rest of the city.
What I don’t like is the lack of personality — it is a very purposeful cinema. In — Out. no lingering in their café and talk the film over a beer & nibbles (Cameo) no sinking in leather sofas, feet up and drinking beer & champangne (Dominion)
For what it is, it does it well. No more, no less.

We don’t normally have this as our first choice fro cinemas as it’s a bit out the way for us but after trying a new Burger joint just up the road we might as well see a movie too.
Our choice was Spider Man 2. I went up stairs to find that starbucks had moved into what used to be the bar, which is handy because all i really neeed is some sparkling water to quench my thirst.
The screen was clean but the seats were quite tight. Too many naff adverts before the actual film.
It’s great as you can get free parking for 4 hours once you find that ticket machine that validates your card. Please read the instructions properly!

Cineworld is a mainstream cinema, with big displays and not much of a character, and that’s cool for lots of people.
It won’t bring nearly as many alternative movies as other cinemas in Edinburgh, but it surely does, only that you need to keep an eye for them, as they might stay for only a few days.
I like the fact that they can bring back movies for a second screening when a «linked» movie will be shown, or when some event relates to the movie, aka. Special screenings on Valentine’s day, or when a sequel is about to be released.
For the more eclectic audience, you can get Royal Opera House and other theatres’ shows, and you get a massive discount on them with an unlimited movies’ card.
I remember watching the Nutcracker a few months ago and the screen ratio wasn’t correct (stretched) and it was the transmitter’s issue, not Cineworld’s one: the Cineworld manager apologised a few times, and during the break a full refund was offered. Thankfully, during the 2^nd half of the show the image was restored.
Any snack and drink are overpriced, like in most cinemas, and unfortunately you can’t get your own drink or food in the cinema.
I have been an Unlimited movies’ cardholder for almost three years now, which means I can go to any 2D and 3D movie for free, and get discounted access to special ones including IMAX, the only one in Edinburgh.
If you do go to cinema at least twice a month, it’s worth considering a membership! I will be keeping mine for sure!

I almost feel like I can’t give this place four stars, but to me three stars is average or «as expected», and given expectations of any chain cinema this place goes above what I expected… in fact, it’s head and shoulder’s above some of the other Cineworlds that I’ve been to.
To be fair, part of why I like this place has little to do with the place itself, but all the same I’ve been here enough now to say that the crows seems fairly well behaved… our outright behaved actually. (Yes, I know, I’ve jinxed myself now.) Still, it is what it is, and I haven’t had that «seriously, you need to be quiet» moment here… I don’t tend to go at weekends, but have attended fairly full Cineworld members previews, etc.
I won’t say much about the Cineworld card other than it’s practically my best friend… if you live near this cinema and are interested in going a few times a month it’s a no brainer… I can’t imagine the amount of money I’ve saved, and Iove the «I’ll just pop down and watch something» mentality that the card can give you… it’s essentially why I go to this cinema. (Plus, for people settling in somewhere new like me or that happily would venture to a cinema solo it’s a completely different feeling getting a free ticket for one versus buying «one please»… can’t explain it, it’s just science… I think.
Sorry, said more about the card than I intended.
As for the cinema itself, it’s a decent size, shows a good selection of films with surprises and more artsy fare scattered throughout most months… other than the cinema having an IMAX screen I don’t think you’ll find too many surprises here one way or the other. (The IMAX screen is a bit suspect in size… it’s big, and still worth it, but seems smaller than other IMAX cinemas I’ve been to.)
It also may be due to the fact that I venture here a lot on weeknights, to try and keep myself out of the wonderful Edinburgh bars, but it never seems overly crowded save a few times I’ve been… I essentially always get a seat where I want, so that’s another point in favour… oh, and Screen 2 gets COLD sometimes… and I like to be cold, better that than hot at a cinema for me… I’m curious as to what the winter will bring for good olé Screen 2 where the air will either be off or subbed for heat. (Hopefully it won’t get as hot as it did cold during the summer.)
There’s also a bar, which has just moved downstairs and I’ve yet to try out, but it’s good to know it’s there… unless the bar moving means you can now take your drinks into a film you formally could not however, unlike the few Cineworlds that I’ve been to in London which actually let you bring your bar brought drinks into a showing.
As for the food, it’s cinema food… I have yet to try their hot dogs, but I hear they’re better than most other cinema dogs so I guess that’s a plus… otherwise no real surprises on this front either.
So I’m sticking with four starts, in fact this particular Cineworld has made it harder to go to some of the others I use my card at… don’t even get me started about the O2 in London! They may have the flash of being in that centre, but it’s generally a terrible experience making me appreciate the no fuss well behaved crowd here all the more.

This is a pretty good cinema, although not my favourite; that remains the Cineworld in Renfield Street, Glasgow… This does, however, have an IMAX 3D screen.
Today, I took my son to see Pacific Rim on that screen — and it’s about as perfect a movie for such a screen as you could wish for.
The cinema itself is as every Cineworld is. Clean, fresh, modern, stylish and well presented. The automated ticket collection machines are a great touch for people that get there just in time, and the snacks, while overpriced as all cinema foodstuffs are, aren’t too far on the steep side.
Plus points for the staff too, every single one of them was friendly, pleasant and told us to enjoy the film. A little smile goes a long way, unlike some cinemas *cough*Odeon Braehead*cough*
I would say that perhaps the volume is a little too loud for some — my son was covering his ears at one point — so perhaps pack some earplugs, but other than that, a fine visit, one that will be repeated.

I like this cinema partly because it’s close to me, and also because I decided to become the proud owner of a cineworld card which is great if you’re going to the cinema regularly. It’s also good if you don’t have a cineworld card as you can still book tickets online and get a 10% discount.
Other than that it’s a standard looking cinema with everything you would expect to have in a cinema. Nothing necessarily fancy but does the job!

Large and even Larger!
This is a massive cinema complex. I would say more than 11 cinemas in one building. They offer lots of movie choice. Nice big screens, good Dolby surround and if you are interested in 3D — good picture quality in both dimensions (2D and 3D).
The seats — I am not so sure about!?! They look comfortable, but after sitting in one of them for more than 2h my neck and bu. hurt quite a bit. Not sure how other people feel about it…
The ticket prices — I think they are extortionate! Maybe because it’s a city cinema or because its «new» or because they want you to join the «Unlimited Club». Not so sure what justifies the high prices if you only buy them last minute?!?
If you have the time to go to the cinema more than once a month, then the unlimited card is a very good deal. You only pay £14.99 and you can go «unlimited» (within reason I would say)

Another quick update, and at first this might sound a bit self-​indulgent, but hear me out. There will be a point.
My last update saw me ranting about the — seemingly purposeful — lack of 2D screenings in order for them to reap more profits by showing more 3D films and subsequently charging extra for glasses, supplements, etc.
However recently I received a fine pressie in the mail: my Cineworld Unlimited PREMIUM card!
Not only have Cineworld updated their Unlimited system to allow their cardholders to book advance tickets (another prior gripe of mine), Premium cardholders now benefit from 25% off food and drink (including the upstairs bar) and also their free movie allowance is inclusive of 3D films.
A much-​needed improvement.
My point at the end of all that is: as much as they’re fleecing the non-​members with their lack of cheaper options, it now seems like Cineworld are trying to simply goad customers into investing in the Unlimited Card. Given all the additional perks of it, it appears the £15 per month is worth it now more than ever. Get one and reap the benefits!

A clean, friendly joint,
10% off online tix
a bit out of town

Oooo a big chain review. I never know how I feel about writing these. I mean a chain is a chain. You kind of know what you’re going to get, and they have that soul-​less aura to them. Most people scorn chains.
But at the same time, sometimes chains do the job. You know, I love Edinburgh and I love that it has so many independent cinemas. Like The Filmhouse and Cameo. I really like that they show art house movies, and movies that have stopped showing in the summer, and they’re perfect for a Sunday night, rainy night, romantic film.
But then, sometimes you need a Cineworld. Sometimes you want The Dark Knight Rises with mega, massive speakers. Sometimes you want to eat popcorn and have extra leg room and have one of those move nights out that remind of you being 13 at a friends birthday party again, with MacDonalds for dinner after.
Yeah, it’s a chain. And yeah it’s soulless. But the seats are new and comfy, it’s well maintained, they show all the big blockbusters, they have enough screenings that it’s sold out (a mega problem for its sister cinema in Glasgow when I lived there) and there’s lots of leg room! I mean, I’m short and even I find the independents quite tight and giving me dead leg.
I find myself going to Cineworld on a regular basis. I even walk past the Odeon on Lothian Road in order to get to the Cineworld. It’s bigger, it’s nicer (the Odeon is underground!) Repeat custom is a sign that you like a place, so it would feel hypocritical to give it anything less than a positive rating since I keep coming back.
And whilst I don’t have it, the Cineworld card is really good value! £15 for the month and you get as many movies as you want. Go more than twice a month and BOOM you’ve saved. And go with an Orange Wednesday and the second ticket is entirely free.
So if I do want a French movie circa 1985 on a Sunday afternoon, I’ll hit up the independent. But if I’m going to see the latest Blockbuster (hello Les Miserable and The Hobbit this December!) then you’ll find me at Cineworld. Stretching out to enjoy the full leg-​room experience.

As large multiplex cinemas in Edinburgh go, this would be my choice by a country mile.
However, that doesn’t mean it’s a very good cinema. It’s not. The ticket prices are expensive, the cinemas are either too cold or too hot, the sound is often ropey, the picture is frequently on an incorrect ratio and is constantly being mucked about with, it feels and looks a bit dirty, and the staff are at best po-​faced.
And of course, everyone talks through the film.
This in itself is not a trait limited to the Edinburgh Cineworld. There are plenty of plebs happy to spoil the movie by yakking through the whole thing that don’t frequent this multiplex. But honestly, I don’t come to this place thinking the audience will behave itself. In fact, I have the opposite perspective, and whenever I come here I try to ensure that I am as far away from other audience members as possible, because chances are they are some gobby arses that think it’s acceptable to discuss the film while it’s still playing. I despair.
Plus the loos aren’t very nice.