FAQ

We decided on Wednesday March 18th, to close our doors for the foreseeable future. We felt that it was the sensible thing to do in light of the government guidelines issued today and for the health and wellbeing of all our staff and our customers. For those of you who have gift vouchers, we will be extending the time limit by the amount of time we are closed once we re-open. Any film or food bookings that we have had to cancel will obviously not be charged for.

Ian and I would like to personally thank everyone who has supported us over the last seven years. I don't think we could ever of believed back in 2013 when we first opened our doors that we could feel so happy running our little social hub in the heart of such an amazing local community. We feel very confident that we will re-open again one day and hope very much to see you all again very soon. Until then, I wish you all the very best in your fight against Covid-19. I hope everyone of you sail through it with minimal symptoms and emerge strong and healthy on the other side.

Why do I have to give a credit card number when booking online?
We take a credit card number to secure the seat booking. On arrival you need to go to the bar and buy your tickets with cash, card or gift vouchers.

I can’t set up an account with you.
At the moment we are helping people to set up an account. You need to call 01283 716257 between 9am and 10am Monday to Friday.

Why do you charge £2 to take my booking over the telephone?
It takes us about 10 minutes to take each booking however once you have an account it takes under 1 minute to book yourself in online. In order to take everybody’s booking on the telephone we would need to spend thousands of pounds on operators and the ticket price would have to go up substantially to cope with this. Therefore we now charge £2 for a telephone booking.

I can’t remember my password
If you can’t remember your password you need to press ‘reset password’ and we will send you another one by email. It’s a good idea when you have received your new password to change it to something that you will remember next time.

I’ve pressed the ‘re-set’ my password several times and nothing is being sent by email
A password will be sent but it’ll be in your spam. If you have pressed the reset button several times you need to ensure you have the last password for it to work. For instance if you have pressed the button four times the first password we send will not work – you need the fourth password.

I want to change my password to something I’ll remember
No problem just press the ‘Change Password’ button on the top of every page and you can put in a word that you’ll remember in the future.

Why has my credit card has been charged?
Your credit card will not be charged unless you don’t turn up or amend your booking.

Can I amend my booking to bring extra people?
You can amend your booking upwards or downwards, or you can cancel until you are 48 hours before your show. At this stage you can amend your booking upwards by up to two people.

Can I cancel my cinema tickets?
You can cancel your tickets 48 hours before the show you have booked and you won’t be charged. You will be sent a text to remind you. For shows marked with a blue dot ‘live shows’ you can cancel 30 days before the show. These cancellation periods give us a chance to re-sell the tickets if you can’t come. We decided to do this because our shows that were ‘sold out’ were always 30% empty with people cancelling at the last minute or not turning up at all.

Can I come to the café bar and book my seat for a future date?
Yes you can but there is now a charge of £2 as an operator will have to run upstairs into the office to speak to you over the telephone to take your booking. Please, if you can, book online as we don’t often have the staff capacity to take someone off the floor.

Can I come to the café bar and book my seat on the same day as the show?
Yes, we can book you in and you can buy your ticket at anytime during the same day that the show is on, right up to the time it starts.

Do you stop people going in if they are late?
We don’t stop you from going in but we do ask that you respect other customers and find your seat quietly.

I don’t want to give you my credit card details as it isn’t safe.
We use Sage Pay which is supposed to be very safe. Phoning up and giving one of our operators your card details for them to put them into Sage Pay is obviously less safe because there is human interaction. Booking over the phone will now be charged at £2.

Where do I buy gift vouchers from?
You can buy gift vouchers on-line or come in to the bar and buy them at the counter.

How do I pay using my gift vouchers when I have to give a credit card number?
When you give us your credit card number you are not actually paying us anything, we only use your card if you don’t turn up. So bring your gift vouchers along and pay with them or cash or a different card if you want to, we will accept them at the bar when you come to pay for your tickets or your meal.

I’ve bought a film and food night out voucher but your prices have gone up. Do I have to pay the extra?
Our terms and conditions state that you have to pay ‘film and food’ price at the time of purchasing the film and food.

How much time do I have to spend my voucher?
You have one year from the time of purchase.

My voucher hasn’t arrived
Please contact us on contact@redcarpetcinema.co.uk and we will track the voucher for you if your voucher has taken 7 days or longer to arrive.

I’ve lost my voucher, what do I do?
Please contact us on contact@redcarpetcinema.co.uk giving the full details of the voucher you have purchased from us.

Oops my gift voucher has expired, can you extend the time?
Very occasionally we will extend your gift voucher for one month if you can prove significant circumstances as to why you haven’t used it such as a prolonged illness etc. Please send us your request and reason via email at contact@redcarpetcinema.co.uk

What is a film and food night out?
A film and food night out is a two course meal and film for a set price. The film has to be a 5pm show or later.

Why can’t I reserve a table between 3pm and 5pm?
We close the kitchen between these times to allow them to prepare for evening service but the café bar is still open and serving drinks and cakes all day.

Do you do discounts for students and old age pensioners?
We do discounts for everyone based on the time you arrive during the day. The earlier the film is in the day, the cheaper it is. The cheapest tickets are for films showing before noon and the most expensive are for films showing from 5pm onwards.

How much time in the restaurant is needed to eat a two course meal?
We ask for at least one and half hours to ensure you get to your film on time.

What happens if I’m late for my film and food booking?
If you are late we cannot guarantee you will arrive in your film in time for the start of the film.

I have an allergy, can I eat with you?

We offer a range of dishes for people with intolerances but we do not offer anything for guests with life threatening allergies. Our guide to intolerances is clearly marked on our menu on each dish with options such as GF (Gluten Free), DF (Dairy Free), N (Nuts), SF (Shellfish), GFO (Gluten free option available) etc etc.

I’m a vegetarian/ vegan, is there anything for me to eat?

Yes, our head chef always plans for vegans and vegetarians to be able to eat a three course meal here at the Red Carpet.

I have a severe allergy, can I eat with you?
We cannot guarantee that any of our dishes are free from allergens and therefore cannot accept any liability in this respect. Guests with severe allergies are advised to assess their own level of risk and consume dishes at their own risk.

Can we just come for a meal?
Yes, of course, just book ‘table only’ and come along for brunch, lunch or dinner.

Do I have to eat two courses?
No, but if you want the film and food deal you will need to purchase the two courses.

Can I book a table outside?
No, but you could request to eat outside on your arrival. Sometimes, if we are very busy it’s really difficult to fight your way through a huge cinema queue to get the food outside. In these circumstances we may say ‘no’ to any request to eat outside.

What is your EHO Food Hygiene score?
Our food hygiene score is currently 5 which is the highest score of excellence the EHO can give a restaurant.

What happens if someone in our party does disturb other guests with rustling, talking etc?
First of all a member of staff will ask you to stop disturbing the other guests. If a complaint is made after that then you will be asked to leave without a refund.

What is a snoozle?
A snoozle is a double seat right at the front of the cinema. They tip you back slightly to you can rest your head and look upwards at the screen. You are extremely close to the screen and snoozles are not suitable for people with eyesight or neck issues.

Can I book the whole cinema?
Yes, please look further down our FAQ’s where there is a section on Booking the whole cinema and Large Adult Parties

Can I come without booking a seat?
Yes of course but we can’t guarantee that you will get in especially when we are very busy.

Can I bring my own food and drinks to the cinema?
No as they tend to rustle and disturb other people

What do you sell to eat and drink in the cinema?
We sell alcoholic drinks, fabulous coffee, tea and hot chocolate, a range of cold drinks, sweets, crisps, nuts, ice cream etc.

Can I come to baby Wednesday without a baby?
No I’m afraid you can’t under any circumstances.

Can I come to baby Wednesday with my toddler?
We accept babies up to 12 months old. After that your child will only be allowed into the film if it has a U or PG certificate and you will have to pay for the seat.

Can I come to baby Wednesday with my other children?
Any children over 12 months old will only be allowed into the film if it has a U or PG certificate and you will have to pay for the seat.

Can I come to baby Wednesday with my partner?
Yes, you can bring other adults with you if you are coming with your baby but they will have to pay for their seat and be extremely tolerant of all the baby noise.

Are there facilities to change my baby?
Yes, we have a baby changer in the disabled toilet with a nappy bin. We also have a step to help smaller children onto the toilet seat.

Do you have booster seats for my child?
Yes, they are stacked in the foyer, just grab one and pop it on your seat.

Are their high chairs?
Yes, we currently have five high chairs which are situated in the lobby as you enter.

Can I breast feed?
Yes of course. If you are at all concerned about privacy you may feel more comfortable around the back of the café bar but you are free to breast feed throughout the whole seating area.

Can I bring children to the cinema?
Yes, as long as the film has the right certificate for them and you are happy to take them out if they disturb other guests.

Can I bring children to the café bar?
Quiet, well behaved children are welcome. We have colouring equipment and books available under the newspapers and magazines.

Can I take my young child into the cinema?
Your child needs to be able to sit quietly throughout the entire performance. If your child disrupts other people in the audience we will ask you both to leave without a refund. We recommend that children are at least two and a half with the ability to concentrate for two hours before bringing them to the Red Carpet.

Is there a children’s menu?
Yes, there is for the under 12’s. If you look on our website under ‘info’ and then ‘menus’ you’ll be able to see it. It’s available all day from 12 noon.

What are your rules for dogs?
Dry, quiet dogs are welcome in the café bar. We do not allow dogs on the furniture.

Can I book a birthday party in the café bar?
We don’t cater for children’s birthday parties in the café bar. We don’t allow any table bookings with more than six children (under 12’s) and we need a one to one ratio of adults sitting around the table with the children to ensure the children are quiet and well behaved.

Can I book a children’s birthday party in the cinema?
You can book multiple seats for children in the cinema as long as you are confident that all the children will sit quietly and enjoy the film without disturbing our other guests. We do not have room to store any gifts and please do not take party bags into the cinema as they rustle. Please ask any parents picking their children up to wait outside as we struggle for room in our foyer.

Adult’s Parties
Can I book the café bar or a section of the café bar for an adult’s party?

We take bookings of up to 14 people in our café bar and in our cinema which you can do online. We can’t take a party size that is any bigger because we can’t pop the tables together. If you were to book two parties of 14 online we wouldn’t be able to put the parties together so you’d be sitting as two groups of 14.

We don’t hire out the café bar for exclusive use because we have so many regular customers.

Can I book the whole cinema for a private event?
Yes you can! Please click here for all our prices and terms and conditions.

Do you have a wheelchair space in the cinema?
Yes we have one space in each cinema. The space can be pre-booked online and this is seat A6 in the big cinema and seat A4 in the little cinema. It is situated on the second row which is behind the snoozles. If you can get out of your wheelchair you can book any aisle seat and move across into the seat and leave your wheelchair at the front of the cinema. Please do not leave the wheelchair in front of the emergency exit.

Are there any steps in the building?
No, none at all, all our facilities are on one level.

Can I come in with a CEA card?
The Red Carpet welcomes CEA cards under the terms and conditions outlined by the CEA card membership. Please note that to guarantee that we can meet CEA terms and conditions you will need to pre book your seats by calling the booking line on 01283 716257 at least one day before your visit. We do not accept CEA carers to ‘Event Cinema’ which covers all shows marked with a blue dot.

Where can I park if I’m disabled?
We now have two disabled parking spaces on the side of our building with wheelchair friendly access from the car to our front door.

Are there any disabled toilet facilities?
We have a disabled toilet in the café bar.

Can you get a wheelchair into the café bar?
We can easily accommodate wheelchairs in the café bar but it helps to have a pre booking if possible.

Do you have a hearing loop?
We do have a fantastic loop system for the hard of hearing. Please can you sit in the correct zone when booking your seats. For small screen any row, seats 5 -10. For big screen any row seats 1-6. If you book in the wrong zone you won’t be able to tune in. Once seated switch your hearing aid to T mode.

Where can I park?
We have two disabled parking spaces around the side of the building. Please do not park on the double yellow lines in front of the cinema.

Where are we situated?
We are situated just off the A38 at Barton Turns. Come off the A38 at the Barton under Needwood, Walton on Trent turn which is also the B5016 and head towards Barton under Needwood. Look for a turning to the left marked ‘Barton Turns’ which a brown sign underneath saying Barton Marina. It is hard to spot at night. Turn right into Barton Marina. If you find yourself in Barton village you have gone too far and need to turnaround.

If you are coming from St. Georges Park or Yoxall you need to drive through Barton under Needwood and when you have gone right through the village you need to turn right into Barton Turns and then right into Barton Marina. If you get to the A38 you have gone too far and need to turn around.

It’s hard to spot at night but there are now some very shiny blue signs which will help to guide you in.

Where can I park and how much does it cost?
There is lots of free parking at Barton Marina. There is CCTV installed around the area and it is generally quiet, well -lit and safe.

What is your postcode for my sat nav?
Our postcode is DE13 8AS. When you arrive you come up a very long drive. When you get to the buildings, keep going with the pub to your left. We are the last building right at the top of the development.

Do you have a map I could see?
If you need to see a map click here.

How do I make a school booking?
We offer school bookings for £6.55 per child with free squash and biscuits, exclusive use of the cinema and free hot drinks and biscuits for the adults. We can welcome groups of between thirty and one hundred and fifty children per day. The start time of the film needs to be between 9am and 10am Monday to Friday. The price includes the film, a drink of squash and a biscuit plus a free hot drink for up to 6 attending adults. You will be given exclusive use of the cinema screen. Please contact us by emailing contact@redcarpetcinema.co.uk. School bookings are very busy before Christmas and the summer holidays so be sure to book early.

Can I bring a group of children on a Saturday or Sunday?
Yes you can but you’ll just need to book them in as part of the general public and they will need adults in the cinema looking after them. We don’t run the free biscuits and squash offer at the weekend with exclusive use of the cinema. If a group is disruptive when a film is on and other members of the audience complain, we will ask you ALL to leave without a refund.