An Australian mother of three was humiliated after she was almost kicked out of the local cinema after bringing snacks for her fussy children.
Anita took her children to Cinebar Coolangatta on the Gold Coast to see a screening of Wild Robot during the recent school holidays.
The family-run theater describes itself as a “budget-friendly Gold Class alternative” to movie theater chains and offers full-service dining and snacks.
However, the strict policy against outside food has rubbed some customers the wrong way, with Anita claiming her fussy children had specific dietary requirements.
The mother was told 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 a few times and have always had no problem buying popcorn and a drink and bringing my own water bottle in my bag from home,” Anita said. news.com.au.
‘I had learned from previous visits with my three young children that there are limited options for fussy children who also have dietary requirements, so on this particular visit I had a small snack – a handful of dairy-free M&Ms and a snack pack of Burger Rings – in my bag , together with water. I was planning on getting a popcorn and drink combo as well.”
Several other customers who have had disputes with Cinebar Coolangatta over outside food shared their experiences in Google reviews.
Queensland mother-of-three Anita was kicked out of Cinebar Coolangatta (pictured) after trying to bring in food from outside for her fussy children
Margaret, a 75-year-old grandmother, was ‘outraged’ when cinema workers confiscated her grandchildren’s lollipops for a film during the Easter holidays.
‘What happened to the world?! I will be going elsewhere from now on. What a performance while enjoying a little sweet treat for my grandchildren,” she wrote.
Another customer, K Raw, said their experience was ‘very disappointing’.
“I felt pressured to buy their overpriced food and drinks, with an employee constantly asking if I was going to buy anything,” they wrote.
‘When I said I might come back later, he then demanded to check my bag.
‘To my dismay, he found a raspberry lemonade, my son’s favorite treat. He took it away from us, making the situation extremely awkward and embarrassing.
‘I’d rather spend a little more money and buy tickets to Event Cinemas Gold Class where the staff are friendly.’
Cinebar CEO Dave Taylor defended the strict policy rules are clearly displayed before customers purchase tickets, online or in the cinema.
Cinebar Coolangatta’s strict policy against outside food has left some customers feeling uncomfortable and vowing never to return (stock image)
“As a local, family-owned business, we are sensitive to cost-of-living issues for Queenslanders, which is why we are offering family-saving deals such as four tickets for $49,” he said.
Mr Taylor added that the theater offers freshly prepared meals to suit 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 such as Hoyts and Event Cinemas enforcing similar rules – the Coolangatta theater still scores highly.
Several customers came to the theater’s defense, citing cheap tickets and high-quality amenities.
‘Cinebar has great ticket prices with reclining seats and offers a great experience for families. Eat before or after, or pay more for a crappier, more crowded place elsewhere if you don’t like the rules,” one person said.
Another called on customers to show ‘respect’ for the venue’s rules.