Cineworld family ticket warning

nixy

My partner and I wanted to take his 9 ur old son to see Star Wars over Christmas. I went on the cineworld site to book tickets online. The options were £9.80 per adult ticket and £4.80 per child. However they offered a family ticket which admits two adults and two kids for £18.80. So it seemed a no brainier to book the family ticket even though it was unlikely we would use all four seats unless he took a pal.
However, when we got to the cinema (Kingswood in Hull) the cashier told me that our family ticket was not valid unless we had two children with us! I was stunned! They said they had started clamping down that day "as everyone was doing it" well you would wouldn't you because it's cheaper! As I didn't have the card with me which I booked the tickets on we were basically turned away with customer services number for a refund. They told me it was due to health and safety as in the event of a fire they would think four people were in the cinema not three. I assume therefore that anyone who leaves early or goes to the loo must sign a form on their way out! Rubbish!

I checked the terms and conditions when I got home and couldn't find anything that gave this rule.

On the plus side we eventually went to Vue cinema in Hull instead and the tickets there are £4.99 all day every day and they still do meerkat movies so that's mega cheap. Will go there instead from now on.