The Cinema in Carlow

ShayK1

paddycanada wrote: »

As I mentioned before, I can appreciate that the price of the popcorn and drinks are more expensive. It is your choice if you would like to purchase it as well. If you choose not to, you may not bring your own however.

You haven't tried to defend the cost of entry yet?

paddycanada wrote: »

I hope to have night once a month or once a week based on the interest, where we show an old movie, like Jaws, or Star Wars, Godfather, that kind of thing, anyone have suggestions for which movie will be the innagural film>?

Terminator!!

Shawshank? Pulp Fiction ??

patrickc

ShayK1 wrote: »

Terminator!!

Shawshank? Pulp Fiction ??

sure if pulp fictions up there then maybe resevoir dogs..


shawshank or the green mile either

shenanigans1982

ShayK1 wrote: »

You haven't tried to defend the cost of entry yet?

Not trying to defend Paddy Canada cos I would like the hear why tickets are so expensive but while 8.50 is pretty expensive it aint too bad compared to other places...My OH and myself went to the cinema up in Dublin on Sunday and it cost 23 euro for tickets...at 3 O'clock in the day.

A few films I would suggest would be ....

One flew over the cuckoo's nest
Sin City
Jurrassic Park
Goodfellas
Alien
Fight Club
Carlito's Way......and finally......
Finding Nemo:D

HugoIrl

Liking the Pulp, dogs & aliens suggestions!

SV

shenanigans1982 wrote: »

Not trying to defend Paddy Canada cos I would like the hear why tickets are so expensive but while 8.50 is pretty expensive it aint too bad compared to other places...My OH and myself went to the cinema up in Dublin on Sunday and it cost 23 euro for tickets...at 3 O'clock in the day.

Yeah but you get what you pay for..

in fairness, the cinema in Carlow has had seats missing before..for a long time too.
bit disgraceful..

ShayK1

I agree €8.50 isn't going to be the most expensive in the country by a long shot but, is it really worth it?

Old (ish) cinema, Not digital, seats that aren't very comfortable...

I don't think so.... I still go though, cause I like going to the cinema.

HugoIrl

Honestly never been to the cinema in carlow, generally go to the vue so can't say about carlow. Vue is nice cosy and plenty of late showings at the weekend.

slimjimmc

I hope the front 5 rows in the new cinema won't be as close to the screen as in the current one. If you're unfortunate to get stuck down there you can forget about seeing the whole screen properly. In case anyone doesn't know what it's like, put your nose against your monitor and try reading this post. (best not to try that at work)

Will you be showing any 3-D movies on the new screens?

As a frequent customer I've noticed a some of the changes since you've taken over PaddyCanada, it feels more customer focussed. I like the idea of buying tickets at the shop since it saves me having to queue twice. Keep up the good work.

SV

Oh and another question..

Why are we not allowed to bring in our own food but the best part of the time the staff are there themselves sitting down with chips etc?

paddycanada

That last question is a good one.

The only way I can fairly look at it is this, the staff are working, and need to eat and preferably choose to eat healthy. Where I draw the line is they are not allowed in to the screens with food from outside on their breaks.

As for 3-D the plan is to have 2 3-D capable projectors in the new place.

The seating and general movie experience, picture and sound will blow anyone away who is used to the current place, it will really have a wow factor.


Keep the titles coming, I am liking the Goodfellas, Pulp Fiction, Alien, Jurrasic Park, Resevoir Dogs Shawshank Redemption

If you do get seated somewhere where you are not comfortable viewing the screen, say it to the staff, we will gladly either help you find better seats, or make alternate arrangements.

JMcCR

Just to add to the comments made already... €8.50 for entry to the current cinema is a rip off. "No value for money" with the fact its so old and uncomfortable.

However, as I spend a lot of time in Rotterdam working and use the Cinemas there quite a bit, I have to say that I'm more than happy to pay €9.50 for a ticket into a big cinema with steep seating and full digital sound with a nice big screen.

"Value for money" - Thats what everyone wants. To be able to walk out and say, "That was worth it". That's how you'll get the return customers.

Tom10

Has the pricing been set for the new cinema yet. I mean a lot of people are bothered with the current price for a poor cinema but i'm wondering what a good cinema will cost.

foggy_lad

the admission price is not too bad if you are in a modern cinema that is managed well and noisy customers removed quickly but when you are going with 6 children and expected to pay €6-8 admission then another €10 each for food the only value for money is to stay at home and get them a load of goodies in aldi for €20 and let them pick a few dvd's in xtravision for at most €15.

when you add children then going to the cinema is a once a year occasion rather than something you can do once a month or once a week.

JMcCR

Just thinking about the ticket price issue.

I know the Cinema (Pathé) that I use in Rotterdam have a members club. You join (min 3 months starting) and pay €18 per month to see as many films as you want. They also do very good family tickets.

Just an idea

paddycanada

For anyone who isn't aware, we do offer a family rate, 2 adults and 2 kids or 1 adult and 3 kids for €22 anytime.

I will put forward the idea of the unlimited pass, it is something we hear alot.

As for prices, nothing has been confirmed yet, but I can't imagine that the prices would increase.

SV

The chips must be from outside the cinema?
Do they not have a canteen no? Just seems a little unfair is all..

splashthecash

hi paddycandada,

delighted to hear of the new cinema!

Possible "oldie" films to show:

• The Godfather (I or II)
• 12 angry men
• One flew over the cuckoo's nest
• The Shining (for the first Holloween in your new location)
• Raging Bull
• Aplocalypse Now
• Aliens

Suggestions for the new cinema:

• none of that premium seating lark
• regular checks by staff to ensure no messing during films
• maybe some kind of member card like the have in vue (i.e. €19.99 a month for as many film viewings as you like)

Question: Will seats be GA or assigned?

Cheers

IronWolf

I'm sure seasonal films would get people in too (films like Home Alone during the Christmas period, Silence Of The Lambs at halloween, etc. )

Some generally well regarded films that haven't been mentioned yet:

Terminator
Star Wars
Blade Runner
Fight Club
The Godfather

Genghiz Cohen

For the love of all that is good and right with the world.
Make SURE, absolutely sure that the largest and smallest of the drinks you will serve will fit in the cup holders on the seats. (I'm looking at you Portlaoise cinema)

foundry

Why cant u buy ur tickets downstairs lately?

I was there tues nite and the q was all the way down the stairs for tickets and popcorn. The lady behind me was giving out as she had already bought her tickets and just wanted popcorn.

Surely it would split the Q's up if you bought your tickets downstairs?

Morf

Just echoing some previous suggestions.

Membership scheme for unlimited use for a certain fee a month.

Some more indie movies along the lines of what you'd find in the IFI for example, this could perhaps just be for 1 night a week.

I'd like to see a much broader range of films unlike as it has been mentioned showing some films on two screens etc. As you mentioned digital copies are cheaper and much easier to get so I hope this will lead to more variety.

SV

SV wrote: »

The chips must be from outside the cinema?
Do they not have a canteen no? Just seems a little unfair is all..

So I take it there's no response to this so?
Bottom line is we're not allowed to take in food but the staff can go outside, get chips and burgers from outside and sit down IN the cinema with the rest of us...
Yet we're not even allowed to bring a drink in?

paddycanada

The question was previously answered. As the staff are working, they are entitled to choose food from outside the cinema, they are not however permitted in the screens with food from outside. If you ever see a staff member in the screen with food from outside, I want to know where and when, what date and time, and I will address it with that staff member.

As for indie movies, there just isn't the demand for it, if there was, we would do it. Thats not to say that there won't be, but in my experience I don't see it as likely.

I love the suggestions, keep them coming. I think Shawshank Redemption would be the best suggestion I have heard so far, if you think otherwise, let me know......

Beth1978

Have to say I can't wait for the new cinema, and paddycanada, you really seem to know what you're talking about so I look forward to a well run movie theatre.

Great suggestions for movies so far....but could we go back even further? I've just recently started to get into watching classic old movies on dvd but how cool would it be to see Casablanca or An Affair to Remember or Some Like It Hot on the big screen. It might get some older people into the theatre too who wouldn't normally venture out to see a movie. Not that I'm old myself...but I love old movies.
Or for the girlies, why not put on Grease or Dirty Dancing around Valentines day so its not all lovey dovey but more out for a fun movie?
Same for the guys, maybe have an Action wk/nd and show Die Hard 1-4 for example?

I think a loyalty card or monthly deal is a great idea, I know I would definitely benefit from that.

One pet hate I have is when kids are let in to see movies that they are clearly underage for. The movie has a rating for a reason, because the content is not suitable for them..I think a more strict eye should be kept on this.

Just some ideas. Best of luck paddycanada!

Tom10

I don't know if I agree with you paddycanada about indie movies not being popular - I mean if ye never show them how are you to know if they would work. The problem with showing them is knowing if they are on and when, so my suggestion for ya is Twitter - set up a twitter account where ye can tell what indie movie is on this week. Its free and easy to use and is immediate for advertising to people that want to hear about it.

Also they are probably in the process of improving twitter in Ireland to be more like the UK and USA where they are sent tweets to your phone so its even easier.

Now where's my prize :P

cashback

paddycanada wrote: »

As for indie movies, there just isn't the demand for it, if there was, we would do it. Thats not to say that there won't be, but in my experience I don't see it as likely.

Well indie movie is quite a broad term. Obviously there's not going to be a demand for Indie US films that cost $20,000 or so to produce and have no 'stars' in them. (Even if i'd like to see some.)
But even films like The Damned United, Looking For Eric which are not blockbusters but big enough releases in the UK were not possible to see in Carlow, instead a trip to Dublin is necessary.
I'm fairly sure if Sideways or Lost in Translation were being released today they wouldn't make it to a Carlow screen.
It's just a bit depressing if the new cinema is going to be eight screens of GI Joe, Transformers, The Proposal, G Force with no room for something a little different.

As regards classic films, I second Alien, Blade Runner, Apocalypse Now. Haven't seen either of the last two somehow.

penny37

one of things i saw in dundrum are the booster seats for kids- portable boosters that kids can put on their seats - they are quieter cause they can see the screen better which leads to a happier cinema time for the not so small kids!

paddycanada

As for booster seats, we currently have those, and will at the new site. I have just driven by the new site as well and you can see some of the walls going up if you look carefully.

Rather then call them "Indie" films, small release films is probably a better term. Its also not quite as simple as phoning up a distributor and ordering up the latest, its a bit more complicated.

I may not know from not showing the indie films, but the owners of the company have been doing it for a long time, and this is their experience.
Now that being said, suggest some titles to me, and if I can see a way that its financially viable, then I will do my best to get them in.

slimjimmc

cashback wrote: »

I'm fairly sure if Sideways or Lost in Translation were being released today they wouldn't make it to a Carlow screen.
It's just a bit depressing if the new cinema is going to be eight screens of GI Joe, Transformers, The Proposal, G Force with no room for something a little different.

As regards classic films, I second Alien, Blade Runner, Apocalypse Now. Haven't seen either of the last two somehow.

I remember when Lost in Translation was shown in Carlow when first released, loads of people walked out in the first 10mins. They never gave, what turned out to be an interesting story, a chance. I suppose most customers go to see new films and wouldn't be interested in paying to see a film which they may have seen twice already on the telebox. I imagine it would take something special to get enough viewers in to make it viable.

splashthecash

hi paddycanada,

do you know at this stage if unlimited monthly membership will be available at this new cinema or is it yet to be decided?

cheers

paddycanada

splashthecash wrote: »

hi paddycanada,

do you know at this stage if unlimited monthly membership will be available at this new cinema or is it yet to be decided?

cheers

it is not something we currently offer, however it has been suggested. I will let you all know here if that changes.

Genghiz Cohen

If you could show classic Tron in the 2 or so weeks before Tron:Legacy is released so people can get up to date and such.
Had a friend come into the latest Harry Potter and Transformers II movies completely lost. Maybe do it for all big releases?

Have like a selection of 5 classics that people can vote for and see at the end of the month. A different set of 5 for next month. Should be easy enough, Tweet the selection and maybe give Boards a few quid so you can set up a poll here or something.

jojo86

ya i agree with an above post,underage kids getting into movies is terrible. there is something really annoying about going into a 16 or above movie and seeing little 12 year olds in there mostly because they can be seriously head wrecking, noisy and messers!!
Plus, what about all the cool merchandise that cinemas never take advantage of? I'd say almost everyone I know has at some point wanted a proper cinema poster or the movie cut outs, what if once they were done with they were sold or something?? I don't know, always wonder what happens to them. Seriously wanted a brilliant BRUNO one when I saw it in Naas.
Fair enough cinema's are gone a bit too expensive between ticket prices and the food is a crazy amount of money but still there are other merchandising opportunities not being capitalized on.
Or even what about a small cafe in a cinema, so you can come in early for the movie and have some grub or afterwards have some food....
Oh and make cinema workers outfits a bit funky, a cool top or cool baseball hat or something. When staff look cool and aren't just wearing those oversized black polo shirts it makes the place itself cooler...at least in bars when the staff have a funky top on people talk about it and want one...:cool:
Feel free to disagree with everything iv said im just babbling various thoughts as they enter my head!!:P

Genghiz Cohen

jojo86 wrote: »

Plus, what about all the cool merchandise that cinemas never take advantage of? I'd say almost everyone I know has at some point wanted a proper cinema poster or the movie cut outs, what if once they were done with they were sold or something?? I don't know, always wonder what happens to them. Seriously wanted a brilliant BRUNO one when I saw it in Naas.

Charity raffle?

shaymousse

You can see the walls of each cinema going up at th emo from outside. Cant wait for the new cinema!

Ebi

paddycanada: any chance of some kidfree screenings? Imagine seeing a movie without all the messing hormonewarped show-off teenie-weenies... A dream come true! Hate it when movie gets ruined. In Sweden (and I'm sure other places as well) they have over 18 cinemas. Normal cinemas also offer over 18 screenings for all movies, not just the rated ones. And no, they dont show ''adult'' movies in Swedish cinemas if anyone was planning that joke.

Also agreed with previous post on doing a rerun of prequels.

and how about a bit of foreing films? Old and new? Or am i the only one who likes some french intellectuals or japanes violence every once in a while?

And please please tell me the toilets are gonna be clean in the new place?

So excited about new cinema, havn't been to the cinema in carlow since Sweeney Todd, got feed up with cues, messing and vile toilets

flamegrill

Paddy the old cinema is a dive. The toilets are never clean, they always smell of pee. The floors in the cinema are always sticky, chewing gum on the seats etc. The entry fee of 8.50 would be fine if as you mentioned the place was clean. I can appreciate that for sometime the new place has been due to open, but that's no excuse for the place not being clean. The gents toilets have always been a pet hate of mine, they're disgusting.

bluefirefly

hey paddy. look forward to the new cinema. magnetic/sensor doors sounds good for the theatres. and yes like some previous people have said, if you have 8 screens dont just show 3 movies,thats silly!!

i like the idea you can book seats online. and i personally prefer the assigned seats, so to avoid people rushing into the theatre to get good seats.and that you have to get there early.

oh and maybe you'd need some kinda bouncer guard too, there's no point having a lovely cinema but full of scumbags( there are a good bit of them in carlow) the minute i walk into waterford cinema before ,they were EVERYWHERE! and popcorns were just flying all over the place,so i left.

car

In the new cinema, can you make sure that the projector is adjusted to the correct size for the screen, it was fair annoying last night when I went to see a film, to have to watch the movie with about a foot off either way off the screen.

Staff came in and out serveral times and never noticed, now I know why I had given up going to the movies in Carlow.

ShayK1

car wrote: »

In the new cinema, can you make sure that the projector is adjusted to the correct size for the screen, it was fair annoying last night when I went to see a film, to have to watch the movie with about a foot off either way off the screen.

Staff came in and out serveral times and never noticed, now I know why I had given up going to the movies in Carlow.

why didn't you get up and tell the staff ?

shaymousse

@ car the new cinema will be digital so no projector!

Tom10

shaymousse wrote: »

@ car the new cinema will be digital so no projector!

Ah there'll still be a projector but it'll be a digital one

splashthecash

are we still on target for a sept\oct opening?? those lads up there seem to be slacking whenever I look up!

car

I didnt go out and complain, as the last time I was there, i had to go out about the sound been out of sync, if I started complaining that night, it would have taken the good out of the night that I was having with my other half. Plus if I started complaining to the poor manager Id be there all night.

splashthecash

Hi all,

Just noticed that Omniplex's website has added Carlow to its locations...and strangely enough it looks like you can book tickets. I thought maybe that this is related to the current cinema in Carlow but that is called CinePlex isn't it?

http://www.omniplex.ie/cinema/cinema/carlow

flamegrill

splashthecash wrote: »

Hi all,

Just noticed that Omniplex's website has added Carlow to its locations...and strangely enough it looks like you can book tickets. I thought maybe that this is related to the current cinema in Carlow but that is called CinePlex isn't it?

http://www.omniplex.ie/cinema/cinema/carlow

Hate to burst your bubble. Carlow has been on omniplex.ie for years so that's nothing new.

Regarding progress, the old cinema has signs up about recruiting staff for the new 8 screen cinema in Carlow. So that's a bloody good sign.

Hurry up lads, I'm getting fed up with the old cinema

slimjimmc

splashthecash wrote: »

Hi all,

Just noticed that Omniplex's website has added Carlow to its locations...and strangely enough it looks like you can book tickets. I thought maybe that this is related to the current cinema in Carlow but that is called CinePlex isn't it?

http://www.omniplex.ie/cinema/cinema/carlow

Carlow CinePlex is part of the Omniplex group of cinemas and, as already mentioned, has been on their website for years. The number of cinemas is not changing, the new cinema is just a new location not an competing cinema.

Genghiz Cohen

Whats the current estimated opening date of the new cinema?
Can one be given?

MarVeL

+1 for the monthly tickets if you're keeping count

colet69

Hi All, interesting thread! I've been awaiting the opening of this cinema for years! Has any real work started on the interior of the new cinema? Does anyone know the architects involved etc?