Buying cinema food

How many of you have been to the cinema in the last 12 months? I know I have.

And how many have bought snacks and drinks that somehow cost more than the cinema ticket? I certainly have!  

Why does it cost so much? Well, a couple of reasons:

1. The cinema/cinema chain has to split the ticket revenue with the distributor  I think the cinema gets to keep about 40%-50% of what they actually get in ticket sales. But they get to keep all of what they earn on food and drink.

2. We are a captive audience. We have to buy it there, because we can’t bring it in. Is that true though?

I've been looking through the Vue, Odeon and Cineworld Terms and Conditions, and only Cineworld states that you can’t bring in any food or drink.

Vue's Guest Admission Policy mentions food and drinks twice:

“3.8   Hot food brought from outside of the cinema may not be consumed on the premises. “

“3.13   No alcohol or illegal substances may be brought into or consumed on the premises – save that alcohol may be purchased from any licensed bars or licensed screens within the cinema (where available).  Alcohol purchased from the licensed bars or screens within the cinema must be consumed within the licensed areas only. Licensing laws shall be strictly enforced.”

So, as long as what you bring in isn't hot or alcoholic, it seems like  they can’t stop you.

Odeon's General AdmissionTerms don’t actually seem to mention food or drinks at all, so it seems like all is fair game here.

Cineworld's however are quite covered. Their Entry Policy states that

“2.2 Alcohol and Food Policy: No alcohol, food or soft drink may be brought onto the premises. Only food and drink bought on the premises may be consumed on the premises. Alcohol may only be purchased and consumed in Cineworld licensed bar areas or in licensed screens and licensing laws will be strictly enforced.”

As my nearest cinema is a Vue, I'm very tempted to bring my own popcorn next time.

Has anyone actually tried this? What happened? Please let me know.