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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Mar 27, 2019 22:12:23 GMT
I don't normally post things like this, but having visited two theatres in the last couple of days (and seen two excellent productions), I was struck by the difference in drinks prices - or more specifically wine prices.
At the Gielgud on Monday, £5 for a 175ml glass of wine (or £6 for the 'better' ones). And the glass of rose I had was perfectly decent. At the Phoenix last night, £9.40 for a 175ml glass of wine! (or rather, £0 for no wine, as I refused it when I was told the price, as there were no price lists to be seen)
£9.40! I expect a theatre to be at the higher end of the price range, but that's extortionate. I assume it's a group thing, as I remember the wine being similarly reasonable at the Victoria Palace and similarly overpriced at the Apollo Victoria. Fingers crossed the next thing I want to see is at a DMT theatre!
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Post by cheesy116 on Mar 27, 2019 22:17:41 GMT
At my place of work, a theatre in Glasgow, a 175ml wine varies from £5.50-£8 and a 250ml from £8-£9. A bottle of water is £2.50! I think the prices are disgusting and I have to smile and keep my mouth shut when patrons complain about the price  . |
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Post by catcat100 on Mar 27, 2019 22:51:08 GMT
I usually steer clear of having a drink at any of the ATG theatres in london. High prices and the quality isn't really that good.
There's a red at the national which I'm quite partial too so will usually get one there.
Young Vic is probably my favourite theatre to have a drink in. Pub type prices, a good couple of beers on tap and some good food. Balcony is nice on a sunny day although does get a bit busy.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 27, 2019 22:56:27 GMT
At Glengarry Glen Ross tonight I paid £5.85 for a Rekorderlig and that was WITH my theatrecard discount.
It is a rip off and a disgrace.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2019 23:15:02 GMT
As well as exorbitant drinks prices the Phoenix is the only theatre I’ve visited for ages that doesn’t have jugs of tap water available at the bar.
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Post by lou105 on Mar 28, 2019 8:08:11 GMT
At Glengarry Glen Ross tonight I paid £5.85 for a Rekorderlig and that was WITH my theatrecard discount. It is a rip off and a disgrace. And that discount quietly disappears when you get your next card.. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2019 8:24:36 GMT
Glad I don't drink
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 28, 2019 9:58:35 GMT
At Glengarry Glen Ross tonight I paid £5.85 for a Rekorderlig and that was WITH my theatrecard discount. It is a rip off and a disgrace. And that discount quietly disappears when you get your next card.. Really? I didn’t know that. So does that mean if one person’s card renews next month they lose the discount, but if another person’s renews in 6 months they carry on getting the discount until then? That can’t be right surely? |
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Post by mistressjojo on Mar 28, 2019 10:21:19 GMT
As well as exorbitant drinks prices the Phoenix is the only theatre I’ve visited for ages that doesn’t have jugs of tap water available at the bar. By law, as a licensed premises they have to provide free tap water on request. |
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Post by anita on Mar 28, 2019 10:28:30 GMT
I never buy a drink in a theatre or icecream because of the prices.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2019 10:32:24 GMT
I buy ice cream at regional theatres because it's hilarious to get a tub of a swanky-flavoured ice cream in Liverpool for half the price it would cost you to get a wee scraping of Haagen-Dazs in London's glittering West End. I also bought a cup of tea when I was at the theatre in Bristol the other week. I don't think the prices at the Royal Court bar are too bad, but if I'm in the West End, it's free tap water or nothing.
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Post by lou105 on Mar 28, 2019 10:33:11 GMT
And that discount quietly disappears when you get your next card.. Really? I didn’t know that. So does that mean if one person’s card renews next month they lose the discount, but if another person’s renews in 6 months they carry on getting the discount until then? That can’t be right surely? Someone may know more, but my understanding was that there is now a choice of Classic or Plus card when you renew, but neither of those offers food and drink discount. Presumably they're honouring discount with existing cards because those were the terms when you paid for it. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2019 10:45:56 GMT
As well as exorbitant drinks prices the Phoenix is the only theatre I’ve visited for ages that doesn’t have jugs of tap water available at the bar. By law, as a licensed premises they have to provide free tap water on request. Yep! But can be a bit awkward just asking for a freebie if there's a queue. |
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Post by vdcni on Mar 28, 2019 10:47:03 GMT
I drink spirits so if you're not careful you can easily spend the price of the ticket on one round in most theatres. There's a handful which are a little better but all that means is that they are in line with standard central London prices and aren't 15-20% more expensive.
The National for me is one of the worst offenders.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2019 10:48:43 GMT
By law, as a licensed premises they have to provide free tap water on request. Yep! But can be a bit awkward just asking for a freebie if there's a queue. Asking for a glass of free water will never be as awkward as the time I battled through the crowds at the bustling Young Vic bar to ask them to fill up my water bottle for free. The barman was great about it, but it took significantly longer than just getting a glass would have, I didn't half get some serious side-eye from everyone else!  |
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Post by schuttep on Mar 28, 2019 11:39:39 GMT
Really? I didn’t know that. So does that mean if one person’s card renews next month they lose the discount, but if another person’s renews in 6 months they carry on getting the discount until then? That can’t be right surely? Someone may know more, but my understanding was that there is now a choice of Classic or Plus card when you renew, but neither of those offers food and drink discount. Presumably they're honouring discount with existing cards because those were the terms when you paid for it. I've just this minute renewed my card and there's no discount for drinks available any more; just no fees, priority booking etc. The Classic is £35 if paid by DD or £45 otherwise. The Plus offers ticket protection and access to their own "forum" and is £59 by DD (or £69). As I'm not bothered about the Plus extras I've gone for the basic. I thought LWT theatres were the worst for drinks prices? |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2019 11:44:05 GMT
By law, as a licensed premises they have to provide free tap water on request. Yep! But can be a bit awkward just asking for a freebie if there's a queue. The staff are probably glad to get something quick and easy to do, rather than dealing with someone who wants to know the complete history of seven types of gin before making their choice. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2019 11:46:10 GMT
The staff are probably glad to get something quick and easy to do, rather than dealing with someone who wants to know the complete history of seven types of gin before making their choice. Oh, I do that anyway before saying "OK, just a tap water thanks!" |
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Post by MrsCondomine on Mar 28, 2019 11:58:04 GMT
Nearly collapsed at the price of prosecco at the Young Vic. £12 a glass or something? Of course you don't realise this until you are about to pay. I think I managed to keep my eyeballs in my head, just about.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 28, 2019 12:42:32 GMT
Someone may know more, but my understanding was that there is now a choice of Classic or Plus card when you renew, but neither of those offers food and drink discount. Presumably they're honouring discount with existing cards because those were the terms when you paid for it. I've just this minute renewed my card and there's no discount for drinks available any more; just no fees, priority booking etc. The Classic is £35 if paid by DD or £45 otherwise. The Plus offers ticket protection and access to their own "forum" and is £59 by DD (or £69). As I'm not bothered about the Plus extras I've gone for the basic. I thought LWT theatres were the worst for drinks prices? Forum? Forum? What forum? 😡 |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2019 14:05:37 GMT
Nearly collapsed at the price of prosecco at the Young Vic. £12 a glass or something? Of course you don't realise this until you are about to pay. I think I managed to keep my eyeballs in my head, just about. Yes, had a similar experience at the Donmar Dryden Street for St Nicholas, when I discovered when I was about to pay that a glass of the only red wine they had there was £8.60. In retrospect I wish I'd refused it. |
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Post by Polly1 on Mar 28, 2019 16:05:46 GMT
The wine at Dryden Street was English, hence the price. I think that is all they serve now at the Donmar itself.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2019 19:08:14 GMT
According to a friend of mine who used to manage a branch of a major cinema chain,on average for every £10 spent on ticket sales and ad revenue,another £5.50 was spent on food and drink.If this is the same case in theatres,then it really is a money-spinner.
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Post by Phantom of London on Mar 28, 2019 19:19:56 GMT
The hundreds of times I have been to the theatre, I have never ordered an interval drink, come to think of it I have never bought a drink in the theatre. Never drink when go to the theatre, but if on a long train journey back I might buy a couple of tins from the supermarket for the journey.
Normally in Caffè Nero and if anything would take in with me a Coke Zero or Pepsi Max.
Guess I am too tight.
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Post by Dawnstar on Mar 28, 2019 19:53:12 GMT
This is why I never buy food or drink at theatres. I take a couple of bottles of water down to London with me, & if I run out go to the nearest supermarket to buy another, & I don't eat anything at all. I'd rather keep my money to spend on more theatre tickets than waste it on overpriced food or drink. I reckon I must have saved hundreds if not thousands over my lifetime in never buying coffee or alcohol!
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