A night out at the cinema is becoming increasingly unaffordable because of rising ticket prices, experts are warning.
The consumer media survey by consulting firm Deloitte found that 70 per cent of people on an annual salary of more than £55,000 go to the cinema at least twice a year — but only 39 per cent of those earning under £20,000 do so.
Since 2007/08, the cost of a ticket has risen 4.4 per cent a year — ahead of inflation, at 3.1 per cent. The average ticket in the UK now costs £6.53, according to the Cinema Exhibitors’ Association. Prices in central London can be around £12.
Deloitte found many people “binge-view” TV shows online. Report author Matthew Guest said: “We have a phenomenal creative economy. But we need to make sure as many people as possible are inspired by great British content and are not excluded from it.”
Last month David Lammy, Labour MP for Tottenham, warned that 27 out of 73 constituencies in London do not have a cinema. He said: “It’s as if poor people have been written out of the script.”
