...
The UCI Cardiff is situated in Cardiff Bay, which at the time of ‘Toy Story 2’ was a ‘newish’ development, with luxury flats springing up around the bay. The cinema is situated at the rear of a complex. Not ones for ‘going out’ too often, we were amazed by the café type bars and restaurants ... Read review
NH Hotels, the hotel chain leader in Europe, with more than 300 hotels in 20 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa. Enter into our web site and find the best available tariff at all times
Advantages: The Gallery Disadvantages: Out of town
...
The UCI Cardiff is situated in Cardiff Bay, which at the time of ‘Toy Story 2’ was a ‘newish’ development, with luxury flats springing up around the bay. The cinema is situated at the rear of a complex. Not ones for ‘going out’ too often, we were amazed by the café type bars and restaurants leading to the cinema itself. As someone else said in this category – this provides plenty to do if arriving too early for a film. Hollywood Bowl ... ...Our next visit to the UCI was for ‘Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone’. The screen this time was full, but I always like to get there early enough to get a decent seat, where I can get in and out if I want to i.e. on the end of a row. This achieved, we still felt that the seats were, as remembered, comfortable and spacious. During a long film, like one of the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, the comfort of any seat, whilst sat there for so long, ... more
I’m not sure that I am qualified to write about cinemas as it’s a rarity for us to pay a visit to them. However over the last three years, with the advent of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, we have frequented this cinema more than we frequented cinemas in total, over the previous 17/18 years!! In addition to the aforementioned films, we have also seen ‘Catch me if you Can’ and ‘Arthur’. Having said that, our first ‘taste’ of this cinema was to see ‘Toy Story 2’ – a long time ago. Since our visit to a cinema prior to that was to see ‘Ghost’, you can get some idea of the huge gap in time of our cinema visits in the past.
The UCI Cardiff is situated in Cardiff Bay, which at the time of ‘Toy Story 2’ was a ‘newish’ development, with luxury flats springing up around the bay. The cinema is situated at the rear of a complex. Not ones for ‘going out’ too often, we were amazed by the café type bars and restaurants leading to the cinema itself. As someone else said in this category – this provides plenty to do if arriving too early for a film. Hollywood Bowl (not sure if it was there at the time) and a Casino now form part of this complex.
Within the cinema there are 18 screens available, 17 of which have wheelchair spaces. Six of these screens are for ‘gallery’ seating (which I will discuss later). Seating numbers in each of these screens vary from 277 in screen 6 to 147 in screens 2 and 3. Gallery seating numbers range from 13 in screen 13 to 46 in screens 15 and 16. As there had been such a long time lapse from our previous cinema visit, we found the transformation remarkable on our afternoon jaunt to see ‘Toy Story 2’. Instead of entering from the rear of the cinema, which was customary in our area in the ‘old days’, we came through an opening/corridor along the side of some of the seating and underneath the higher seating area. This led us to the front of the cinema. Each row from the front of the auditorium was elevated from the row in front of it. Even though there were so many screens, the screen we were in seemed very spacious. Admittedly, this was a weekday afternoon when children were in school, and not many people were there and this probably added to the feeling of spaciousness. We marvelled at the size of each individual seat – a far cry from the last time we had gone to a cinema. The seats were also very comfortable, encompassing cup holders for soft drinks.
Our next visit to the UCI was for ‘Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone’. The screen this time was full, but I always like to get there early enough to get a decent seat, where I can get in and out if I want to i.e. on the end of a row. This achieved, we still felt that the seats were, as remembered, comfortable and spacious. During a long film, like one of the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, the comfort of any seat, whilst sat there for so long, slowly diminishes as time progresses. A colleague from work told me about the ‘Gallery’ seating. Although more expensive, it entitles ticket holders to the use of an expensive licensed bar, where drinks are poured in plastic glasses (because you are able to take these with you to watch the film); unlimited free soft drinks such as coke, diet coke, lemonade, tea and coffee; unlimited nachos with cheese and salsa dips and sweet or salted popcorn (also unlimited as far as I know). The ‘Gallery’ is only available to over 18’s. The seating is right at the back of the cinema, in an area cordoned off for ‘Gallery’ ticket holders only. Access to the screens is via the first floor – with an option of a lift or stairs to get there. The seats are a lot more spacious – in fact there are many seats in ‘twos’ which come almost close, in size, to resembling our own two-seater settees in our home. For frequent visitors of the cinema, this may work out very expensive, but for our infrequent visits, we find it is well worth the extra money. Even though I still felt the need to fidget in ‘Lord of the Rings’ these seats were far more comfortable than the normal ones. Because of our infrequent visits to the cinema, our last five have been to the ‘Gallery’ as opposed to the ‘normal part ‘of the cinema.
As far as I’m aware, there are three options to buy a ticket to a film:
1) Queuing, as normal at the ticket ‘booths’. There are only two though. 2) Automated telephone booking, which can take forever – luckily Cardiff, starts with a letter that is at the beginning of the alphabet! If you persevere long enough you, can get to speak to a ‘real’ person 3) Booking online – my preference.
Automated telephone bookings and booking online require a credit or debit card. You will be given a reference number, which incidentally means nothing to the staff at all, if the machines where you collect your tickets from are not working! For both of these options you need to have the card you made the booking with (easy if you only hold one debit or credit card!!).
Booking by automated telephone and online, require as said previously, for you to have the credit/debit card that you booked with to hand on arrival. There are two machines (when working) available for you to insert your credit/debit cards and ‘hey presto’ your tickets appear. I suggest you check your tickets immediately, as on our last visit, we were given an extra one for a different film – I have no idea how that person who the ticket was allocated to ‘got on’ with redeeming his/her ticket. Honest people that we are, we took it back to the ticket booth (having to queue of course to get there). Even if we had kept the ticket, we would have had to see two films at the same time! On one occasion the ticket machines weren’t working and we had to queue as everyone else did, but we did get our ‘booked’ tickets without any fuss (apart from I couldn’t remember which card I’d used to book – this is easy in the machine, as you just keep putting your card in until you get the right one!) Needless to say, that when booking now I always write down which card I’m using!
Now for the obligatory bits
Prices – Adult off peak, £4.80 or £5.80 ‘normal’ times. Students, Mon-Thurs £4.00, Fri-Sun £4.75. Gallery Mon–Thurs £9.00, Fri-Sun £12.00. Seniors and under 15’s £4.00. There are various other discounts e.g. Kids Club Sat & Sun £1.95 with an accompanying adult free. These can all be viewed on the website. Booking by automated telephone service and online attracts a booking fee (around £0.56 per ticket).
Their website boasts that all screens are fitted with Infra Red Hearing Systems, compatible with most hearing aids, and also digital subtitling and audio description available on certain films. (I can’t comment on whether these statements are true or not).
As can be expected, food outlets are available within the cinema complex itself. We have never bought anything from these so cannot comment on their quality, but they are on the expensive side.
Unfortunately, as you can see from the review, I am unable to make a comparison with any other cinemas, so whilst I feel it is good value, perhaps it isn't!
Advantages: Parking, Other Amenities Disadvantages: Cost, Location, Older cinema in comparison to ucg etc in city centre
...establishment housing them. The UCI Cinema is situated in Cardiff Bay, for those of you not familiar with Cardiff, this is the re developed area of the city, with more business, expensive flats and things to do than in its previous life as a dockyard and industrial centre. The cinema complex itself is located on a site with Hollywood bowl, a nightclub and a small selection of bars and cafe houses. The major benefit of this is that if there is a while ... ...options as to how best to pass the time, as there is nothing else to do nearby. The location is pretty much out of town, and is pretty inaccessible to those without a car, as bus services do not run directly to the cinemas location and it would be quite a walk from the city centre. The cinema itself has around 12 screens, although from all of these, one is what I would term a large cinema, devoted to the major releases, with 11 smaller screens showing ...
Groover 19.05.2003 (21.10.2004)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of UCI Cardiff
Advantages: Lots of things to do Disadvantages: Can be expensive and is hard to get to
The UCI in Cardiff is right in the bay which if you are a student or someone with no car it is difficult to get to, however once you do get there you will find not just a cinema. It is in an area that has just recently been re-done so as well as a cinema there is also bowling, games, a cocktail bar (which is highly recommended) and also a nightclub. The cinema itself is always kept clean and the seats are very comfortable, with viewing capability ... ...many different screens and because of that you can turn up and see any film almost at any time. Student discounts are only given between Monday and Thursday which are usually the best days to go because other then on those days the cinema can be very expensive. However it is a good night out and a very good cinema. ...
hcook 08.12.2000
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of UCI Cardiff
Advantages: Comfy Seats, Usually get a parking spot Disadvantages: Massively overpriced, slow concession staff
The UCI cinema is located in a leisure complex in the excellent Cardiff Bay area. The complex is made up of a few bars, restaurants and a bowling alley. The immediate area of Cardiff Bay is top notch and getting better every week. However, the UCI cenima itself is not worth the price. Every time I go there the price seems to have gone up. It is currently £5.65 per ticket. If there's two of you, it would almost be cheaper to go and buy a DVD and keep ... ...ice-cream, popcorn, sweets, nachos, coke (whatever you prefer)you're looking at quite an expensive night out. (Let's hope the film is worth it).
This last point brings us onto the next complaint. The concession staff have to be the slowest, most poorly trained sales staff I have ever come across. The stuff is overpriced and you have to wait an age to get served. If you want to eat or drink during the film, make sure you get there early enough to ...
bridgendboy 27.06.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of UCI Cardiff
The UCI cinema has many positive attributes such as it being situated in a complex with other facilities such as bowling, bars, cafes, radio station, and a night club. It also always has the latest films and even the arty uncommercial films even if only uaually shown for a week.
The price to get in is quite high although the quality of each screen is very high.The seats are very luxurious with drink holder etc, and there is plenty of room for you're ... ...on the steps which give the place a magical feel.
Students have concessions mon-thurs which reduces ticket cost a lot from £5.65 to £3.50ish and there is a vast amount of different snack food available.
The only negative attribute this cinema has is it's location,being outside the city in Cardiff bay where you need to catch a taxi or train to get there as the area is quite rough. However, trains are frequent and in my opinion it's worth it. ...
siany 07.03.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of UCI Cardiff
UCI is, aswell as being a long way from town, the most expensive cinema in Cardiff. However, you wouldn't expect to pay any less for such a comfortable cinema. The seats are huge and very plush. If you go during the week, not only do they do student discount, but it is usually pretty quiet, so you are able to stretch out and make yourself even more ccomfortable! It is a mainstream cinema, showing all the new releases as soon as they come out. The ... ...couldn't ask for more out of a cinema, except perhaps that it was a little cheaper!
Although the cinema is quite a way out of town, there is ample parking and if you take the treck there, you might aswell make the most of it. There is a lovely bowling alley, bars, an arcade, several restaurants and a very impressive nightclub. Whilst I wouldn't advise going clubbing after the cinema (the club- evolution, is one of those places you have to be pretty ...
NATI 20.02.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of UCI Cardiff
Similar reviews »
Reviews which might be of interest for "UCI Cardiff"
Advantages: A growing capital city, a good size. Disadvantages: Nowhere to visit.
every Saturday.
The film Human Traffic was filmed entirely in Cardiff so if you have seen that and want to visit some of the venues, you need to get down to:
Evolution, and
The Firedrake and Firkin!
There is also Cardiff Bay, a fairly new development, with Techniquest (a science museum for kids), hotels, a Sports cafe and a few clubs.
There are 2 big cinemas, UGC on Mary Ann Street and a UCI at Cardiff Bay. The UGC does £2.99 tickets for students and £2.99 tickets for all showings before 12 so get up early to save some money! There are concert venues including the CIA and smaller venues such as The Bar Fly and of course, Cardiff Students Union, where bands such as Embrace, Wheatus and So Solid Crew play have put on gigs.
As for theatrical entertainment, the main theatre in town is the New Theatre, where many nationwide ...
Advantages: Shops under one roof Disadvantages: Busy on weekends
on the weekend although week days it calms down a lot.
Upstairs in the Capital you can have u'r nails pedicured or pay to have u'r hair styled in a Vidal Sasoon salon which is brilliant to get out of the way of the hustle and bustle.
The Caoital also has it's own cinema(Odeon)which is in a great position.It shows all the new films at good time and the price is reasonable,although compared to the UCI is tiny.
If you go to Cardiff you have to go to the Captial shopping centre! ...
Advantages: It's got a great atmosphere, and is very relaxing Disadvantages: Hard to get to
Via Fossa is a bar situated in Cardiff Bay just a bit further on down past the UCI near Harry Ramsdens. From the outside it doesn?t look much, and it?s only when you get inside you realise how big the place is. There?s three floors and each floor has it?s own bar, on the ground floor you can also order food. The drinks are all reasonably priced and they do everything you can think of including hot drinks (the hot chocolate is highly recommended). The food is a little pricey compared to other places however you do get what you pay for and they don?t hold back. It is a very laid back place with sofa?s and candles giving it a great atmosphere, and definitely a perfect way to finish an evening out. ...
hcook 13.12.2000 (12.12.2000)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Via Fossa
