Vue Cinema Croydon - Croydon Grants — Local services in London

Edit 2: Unfortunately, Vue have now (11/22) raised their prices and messed with their seating plan; now costs about as much as their nearby competitors, so no reason to choose them over (e.g.) Sutton Empire now. That's a shame, I enjoyed going there... not really worth it now.

Edit 1: One thing to note about Vue Cinemas in general: I'd say avoid their gift cards; which can only be used at the venue, not online/phone, and as such you'll be charged an extra £1 for a ticket - which is the standard pricing for at venue/online at the moment. A bit sneaky.

It sure isn't a perfect cinema and probably isn't the best - depending on how you class that, of course - in the general area. However, I actually really enjoy going here - it's my go-to.

There are negatives to it. It is a very old feeling cinema, at least one set of escalators has been down basically every time I've been recently and it does feel like a ghost town staff-wise for the most part.

Still, as noted, I like it here to be honest. I like that you just turn up and head to you screening without having to speak with anyone, I did think that was iffy when it came to potential crowd issues though, just last night, a few people were ejected (presumably for not paying, though I'm not certain) quickly and quietly by two staff members - so they are watching, if not necessarily visible.

The ticket prices are the best - at least from what I've seen - in the area; as of this review, buying online is £6.99 (£7.99 in cinema). That's fantastic as the nearby other Vue cinema in Purley Way is £8.99 to £9.99 (!), the Empire Cinema in Sutton is £7.99 to £8.99 and the nearby David Lean Cinema is £8.50. As long as those prices stick, the Croydon Grants Vue will remain my go-to.

The seating is another reason I like this cinema. For example, at the aforementioned Empire in Sutton, all standard seating - barring one screen - is squeezed in at the front, whereas here it is available at the front and back; while the costlier seats still have a great view in-between. The disabled seating is also good, which definitely can't be said for Empire - which, fwiw, is a great cinema, don't get me wrong, but it has a few drawbacks as does this and other cinemas.

As for cleanliness, I can only speak for myself and I've not had any issues - no popcorn on the floor even springs to mind. This cinema also has a lift, though it is only useable for those who need it and with staff assistance; which is a little inconvenient to search for a staff member (given the earlier mentioned), but it does at least stop kids et al. clogging it up ahead of those who need it. Transport links, at least by bus, are excellent, if a medium sized straight...

The entire atmosphere of this cinema is fairly uninviting to be honest. It all feels quite run down and in desperate need of freshening up.

To start with none of the escalators work and after being there a few times and reading other reviews this just seems to be how it’s always been. This really needs to be sorted asap. There nothing worse than walking up 4 flights of stationary escalator stairs and feeling exhausted and lost for breathe before you’ve even reached your seat.

There is barely any staff present so It’s a ghost town. No one seems to check tickets. This is irritating as a customer as if no one is checking then whats the point? It feels like anyone can just walk into a screening…maybe that could be a safety issue? Who knows. In every cinema I’ve ever been to there is normally always someone checking tickets. 

Every so often a member of staff would come into our screening and inspect it with night-vision goggles. It seems the priority here is combating piracy and not whether people have paid. It was very distracting and at times almost ruins the enjoyment of the film. This person came in a few times during our screening.

Overall the screen was fine, the sound was okay and the seats were quite worn down and could probably do with replacing. It’s a shame as the location is fantastic it just feels really dumpy and forgotten about. 

I really want to avoid streaming new releases at home, I still enjoy the ritual of going to a cinema. During a difficult period such as Covid you would think that cinemas would make more of an effort to entice people back in. It seems that a chain like Vue couldn’t care less about upkeep and want to provide the bare minimum of a cinema experience. 

For me I will go here for the time being as its convenient but that’s about it. It’s serves it purpose but so does a ready meal. Doesn’t mean it’s always the best way to enjoy something. 

Maybe it’s my fault for accepting mediocrity for the sake of convenience and only change will come when I vote with my wallet and refuse a below average cinema going experience. Maybe it’s the only way to show the ‘big man’ who’s boss and get these multiplex cinemas to pull up there boot straps and give us, the customer, a quality experience that’s worthy of the price of admission….or maybe not. Maybe that’s life. They win in the long run and we compromise our values for the sake of comfort and convenience because really when the market is cornered by mega corporations what choices are we left with? who really wins in the end?

Who knows. 

At least fix...

Bought 2 tickets to watch the avengers today, screen 2 seats H3 and H4 as there was no VIP seat available i paid for 2 seats because i know its a very long film and i easier get muscle cramp and i purposely paid £24 to sit next to a wall with another free space next to me so i dont get muscle pain and uncomfortable, a gentlemen walk in and sat in a row in front of me, he was a big feller and a lady next to him must of felt uncomfortable because he is a big guy and obviously is leaning over to people on his left and right, so a lady call in a member of staff (at this point the film has already started) member of staff came in to check his receipt and he was in the wrong seat but then the member of staff pointed for him to sit in an empty seat the i have purchase, i then have told the member of staff that i have paid for this seat i have got a receipt to show the member of staff said ill be right back while this gentleman came and sat in my seat as he was told to, that member of staff never return to sort this situation out, i have to sit there through it push up against the wall he also kick my popcorn over by accident but taken up most of the space including leaning over to my side, as i didnt want to be rude to tell him to move and disturbing everyone els in the cinema because the film has already started, i have to sit there for 3hours in pain.

The member of staff already check his ticket to move him out a seat in the first place so she must also know that his ticket does not belong to my seat either but yet did not direct him to his own seat but just pointed at an empty seat that i have paid so i can be comfortable while enjoying my experience at the cinema and the movie. Yet lie that she will return to sort this problem out and...