Ashbourne cinema

That_Guy

JayeL wrote: »

I was at the same showing but went out to give out to them, they had the picture crooked and it was going to start flashing weirdly when the film came on. Also the sound was a bit off.

And yes, I can confirm that there is a working ticket collection machine at the entrance. There's just the one but it's grand - however if you're getting a student ticket, you still have to collect it at the food counter.

Speaking of which, I still ended up queuing for food (what can I say, I'm a hun-gah) but I thought it'd take no time as there were only 3 people in front of me. But Jesus tonight, the time it took for them to serve people.

At the risk of sounding like an old fart (who's not even 30 yet), the kids behind the counter are seriously in need of adult supervision. They seem to use their time to chat to their mates, flirt and generally act the b****x rather than, y'know, serve people. It took 15 minutes for them to serve the 3 people in front of me - bit of a joke.

Normally I'd feel guilty for bringing in food (cinemas don't make money from showing films, their cut is usually tiny thanks to the big studios) but if this is the craic, I'll be stopping off in Topaz anymore (2 big bags of Maltesers for €4, btw)

Sure you may as well pull out a portable DVD player and watch something in the car park if you're gonna do something like this.

bladespin

That_Guy wrote: »

Sure you may as well pull out a portable DVD player and watch something in the car park if you're gonna do something like this.

Thought the prices were reasonable, service from one of the 'kids' (I'm over 30) was very good, freiendly, a trait lost in the likes of Blanch etc.

Cost was €36 something, that was 2 tickets, medium popcorn, 2 large cokes and a bag of M&Ms (yeah I know, savages etc hehe).

That_Guy

Was there on Monday and they've definitely now got a ticket collection machine downstairs when you walk in if you've purchased tickets online.

Jaedan980

Anyone have any idea when Fun Galaxy or the restaraunts beside it are opening??

JayeL

I went to District 9 last Saturday night and Screen 1 was barely a third full. I booked online and when I checked my credit card statement, it turned out I was charged for both that ticket and two other tickets.

Naturally, I got a bit annoyed and called the cinema, got through to Jamie. He told me that the two tickets might be for a previous film. Sure enough, turns out they never took for the two tickets I booked for The Proposal. In July.

In fairness, he was very apologetic and said it was some kind of problem with the company they use to collect card payments which they've fixed now. But why was it taken the next time I booked with Showtime Cinemas?

I'd advise anyone who booked with them in July to check their statement. God knows you won't hear from Showtime themselves - they've barely advertised and no sign of cinema timetables in local shops etc... .

Geranium

They have two for one vouchers in the meath echo and chronicle now.

JayeL

Geranium wrote: »

They have two for one vouchers in the meath echo and chronicle now.

Good to see them promoting the cinema in local media - still only able to get showtimes on their website and nowhere else.

BUT - has anyone seen this interview with James Towler, one of the men behind Showtimes Cinemas, in the Meath Chronicle (http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/fightingback/articles/2009/09/16/391309-the-reel-deal-for-hard-times/).

He talks about cinemas being fairly hardy in a recession and how their costs are so much etc. But what do Ashbournians think of this for a pronouncement:

James Towler wrote: »

"In a small town like Ashbourne, people will maybe have gone to a cinema in Navan or wherever. Not being disrespectful to Navan or anywhere else, but if you walk into my cinema, you'll see exactly what's been spent on it. "

He appears to believe that in the past, Ashbourne people travelled to the cinema in, eh, Navan??? Does he think that as long as he betters the cinema that warns you not to watch Bruno, he's flying?

I grew up in Ashbourne and have been to Navan maybe 4 times in my life! Why would we travel so far to such a small, most-likely inferior cinema when we always had any cinema north of the Liffey closer?

This guy would want to sort out some market research - he obviously doesn't see UCI Blanch or Movies@Swords as rivals when they obviously are.

ferga_com

Agreed. I've lived in Ratoath for some years and have never been to the cinema in Navan. Always Blanch or occasionally Liffey Valley or Dundrum.

mcwhirter

I went to see District 9 in screen 5 on saturday, and there were about 20 people watching. I feel the cinema needs more advertising.
Also I found the seats very disappointing, even though I was one row from the back the backrest seemed too far forward so I was pushing back on the back recline with my feet jammed to the floor. Hardly relaxing.
It didn't seem dark enough too compared to other cinemas, I'm not sure if it was because the screen is massive compared to the room and my jeans took on a glow from the projector room ceiling light.

Technically though, the sound and picture were great.

ChristinaIndigo

Apparently there's an Eddie Rockets going in beside! Woop!
Chocolate Fudge Brownie me! lol!

Back to the cinema though - what do you guys think of the staff?
I find they vary, some are great, some not so great :-/

CUCINA

Mrs Cucina and I went there for the first time last night, to see "Up" in 3D (very enjoyable film).
Having previously read the comments on this thread, I was interested to see the set-up for myself and came away generally impressed. The staff were very young (like the proverbial police I suppose!) but quite helpful and anxious to please.
We are not ones to eat in the cinema (hate pop-corn!) but we forgot to bring water so I bought a standard-size bottle and was taken aback to be asked two euros and sixty cent for it! That is OTT in any man's language!

Reclining seats also quite comfortable, with plenty of leg-room.
The only other down-side was the location of the cinema, which basically is quite isolated and away from the buzz of Ashbourne shops etc. This probably partly explains why the 8:30pm showing had only about a hundred patrons, about a quarter full.
If I was an investor in this enterprise I would be a bit nervous about its prospects for success but I wish it well...

ferga_com

ChristinaIndigo wrote: »

Back to the cinema though - what do you guys think of the staff?
I find they vary, some are great, some not so great :-/

I've been to about four movies there at this stage and have always found the staff great. Maybe I've been lucky and have missed the crap ones.

That_Guy

I've not been up to the cinema lately but I have heard rumours of Eddie Rockets going in beside it.

The location is still very questionable but tbh I don't think there's anywhere else they could put it.

I have seen little or no advertising for it bar on the back of a bus in Drogheda. They need to advertise the cinema more especially for those living in the far side of Ashbourne who actually may have no idea the cinema may even exist.

No advertising = no business.

ChristinaIndigo

Sure, have you seen the new low-cost store after moving into Merlin? "BuyLo" (or something along those lines).
Supposed to be the Irish version of Lidl..............really going to attract more business up that way :rolleyes:

I also heard a while back that Penneys was moving into 4home?
Quite possible that they pulled out - quite frankly there's no business doing up that way.

Going to the cinema is grand if that's all you're wanting, but, Blanch is still best if you want to pick up a few bits while you're out.

Such a pity, I thought that whole place was going to boom from the off.
Can't see the likes of Argos lasting much longer either........

pauldaly1888

gblh21 wrote: »

Buy low are not opening now!

says who?i got a leaflet in the door from them with all their deals for the ashbourne store on it so up until yesterday they definitely were opening

brettmirl

That's odd...there's signage up on the shop in Ashbourne at this stage.

ChristinaIndigo

Not opening?

Hmmm, I must really be going crazy because I could have sworn I was actually walking around it yesterday........
I think I must have imagined myself buying some Halloween Jellies *goes to check cupboard* :P lol

It's not great, not terrible either.
Grand for the odd purchase, but, certainly wouldn't bank on it for everything. Seems to be a good for buying things in bulk, but, it's still not that much cheaper than the rest.

Probably won't last too long - good for a look though.
Better than having to kill time if you're early for a movie by flicking through an Argos catalog you already have at home lol
It's like unlocking a new level of a game! LOL

pauldaly1888

its open alright.your man is talking absolute rubbish. probably looking for attention!!

Mr Magnolia

gblh21 wrote: »

:D:D:D:D:D
Ah.....sad meath b******!!!!! Meath c**t stuck up his own hole. Best of luck living life in such a s*** hole!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Banned.

ferga_com

Don't feed the trolls. :rolleyes:

cinema guy

JayeL wrote: »

Good to see them promoting the cinema in local media - still only able to get showtimes on their website and nowhere else.

BUT - has anyone seen this interview with James Towler, one of the men behind Showtimes Cinemas, in the Meath Chronicle (http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/fightingback/articles/2009/09/16/391309-the-reel-deal-for-hard-times/).

He talks about cinemas being fairly hardy in a recession and how their costs are so much etc. But what do Ashbournians think of this for a pronouncement:



He appears to believe that in the past, Ashbourne people travelled to the cinema in, eh, Navan??? Does he think that as long as he betters the cinema that warns you not to watch Bruno, he's flying?

I grew up in Ashbourne and have been to Navan maybe 4 times in my life! Why would we travel so far to such a small, most-likely inferior cinema when we always had any cinema north of the Liffey closer?

This guy would want to sort out some market research - he obviously doesn't see UCI Blanch or Movies@Swords as rivals when they obviously are.

Hi!! Just to put the record straight on this one,(I hope) we do advertise in the Meath Echo as well as the Meath Chronicle. We are also on Aertel page 323. We have printed and posted 2 sets of flyers and advertised on the backs of buses. We have surveyed the good people of Ashbourne and Rathoath, and have found that almost no one looks at the paper to get film listings times. The problem with the Echo is that it is published by-weekly, so we cant put times on it! Our website has proven to be hugely successful - we use Google Analytics to monitor activity, and our volume is substantial. We are also on Facebook, Bebo and Twitter, not to mention Entertainment.ie!! I never suggested that our catchment area patrons had traditionally visited the cinema in Navan - I was merely making the point that we are a local cinema in a local community, and that I believed that we were doing a good job in our catchment area. Of course people travelled to Swords and Blanch in the past- both good cinemas too. However, our level of business suggests that this is seldom the case any more. I am most grateful to the people of Meath for their continued support and good wishes. I hope this clears this up!!!

That_Guy

cinema guy wrote: »

Hi!! Just to put the record straight on this one,(I hope) we do advertise in the Meath Echo as well as the Meath Chronicle. We are also on Aertel page 323. We have printed and posted 2 sets of flyers and advertised on the backs of buses. We have surveyed the good people of Ashbourne and Rathoath, and have found that almost no one looks at the paper to get film listings times. The problem with the Echo is that it is published by-weekly, so we cant put times on it! Our website has proven to be hugely successful - we use Google Analytics to monitor activity, and our volume is substantial. We are also on Facebook, Bebo and Twitter, not to mention Entertainment.ie!! I never suggested that our catchment area patrons had traditionally visited the cinema in Navan - I was merely making the point that we are a local cinema in a local community, and that I believed that we were doing a good job in our catchment area. Of course people travelled to Swords and Blanch in the past- both good cinemas too. However, our level of business suggests that this is seldom the case any more. I am most grateful to the people of Meath for their continued support and good wishes. I hope this clears this up!!!

Fair play for the post.

Have you advertised elsewhere bar the two papers you mentioned and the buses?
Local shops etc. Tesco, SuperValu, Dunnes and so on.

Also is there any plans for say a "buy one get one free" ticket night during the week?
That would get a lot of people in for during the week.

asomeday

cinema guy thanks for the post.

I am an avid cinema goer & would normally go during the week in the evening & your staff are always warm & friendly & the screens are always clean but i think it could be busier {us locals want it to be kept open}

I am a social media marketing practitioner & believe it can do wonders for businesses.blogs & social media competitions could work really well for your company.I spend about 30% of my time on social media networks & have not come across your name-would be interested.

Well done, keep up the good work

ChristinaIndigo

Great having the cinema there!

Lovely staff (actually find the younger ones to be the most helpful) -
only problem is......there's absolutely nothing else to do up that way!

Would love to come out after a movie & head in for something to eat nextdoor. Omni used to do a deal with Pizza Hut where the price of a meal would be included with the price of your ticket; would be ideal if something along those lines were to move in.

Blanch or town can sometimes seem more appealing because you can make a day of it instead of literally only having the option of seeing a movie.

I know it's not the cinema's fault that there's nothing doing up there so, I sincerely hope something goes in soon.
Would be such a pity to lose this great addition to Ashbourne!

mr_edge_to_you

Partial to a bit of grub before the cinema. It that way Dundrum town centre wins hands down, bit too far though. The problem for ashbourne retail park is that if a restaurant opened up it would have no other business outside of the hours of 7 to 9. Maybe be bit of business on a Saturday afternoon. It's a catch 22. Just one of those things we'll have to live with!