56 replies to this topic

[cunningham1471]

bl00djunkie, on Mar 1 2012, 11:35 AM, said:

naurarwen_fangorn, on Feb 29 2012, 10:46 PM, said:

Joy bag searches as mine with have all my diabetic stuff in it as well as some food and drink to make sure i don't have any hypos and shizzle so hopefully they wont try and take any of it off me.

its the metal detector thingys just tell them before you walk through may speed things up.

I'm assuming by the O2 you are talking about the O2 in Greenwich. If you are they will likely only ask you to go through metal detectors if you look suspicious or possibly middle easten.
I've been to the O" both to the arena, the O2indigo and the cinema, which is one of my local ones and have never ever been stopped let alone asked to go through their two metal detectors despite the fact I'm carrying a bag. Usually they just don't bother using the metal detectors. Strangely the very few people I have seen getting stpped and asked to go through it look like they are for the want of a better term "foreigners" all though they could of course have been born in the UK.
These people aren't acting strangely or doing anything that would make you look at them twice, they just seem to randonly get picked out of everyone carrying a bag to go through the scanner.

As you aren't going into the arean taking drink and food shouldn't be a problem. The O2 security don't care what you take in to the O2 if you aren't going into the arena. There are numerous eateries (inc Nandos, Silk Garden, pizza something or other, many bars that over charge [the slug and lettuce is the cheapest place to eat]) in there so people carring bags around in the O2 is expected

As far as the cinema it'self. It's one of the Cineworld chain. Cineworld do have a policy of no taking your own food and drink into the cinemas and are supposed to check bags. I've only had it done once to me and that was at another branch. The staff in the O2 really don't care, even the jobsworths. When I go to see a film there I usually take in at least one, sometimes 2 small bottles of coke in a bag. I buy one small coke and then just do top ups from the bottle. Perhaps it's because I bought a drink they don't think about searching my bag, but I doubt it. At that branch I have never seen anyone have their bags searched.

Three things it is worth noting about that Cineworld

1) The corridors sometimes smell of pee. I have no idea why it is, but they always seem to have problems with their drains and you have a waft of stale urine coming from out the gents.
Around about Sept/Oct the whole O2 got shut down causing Lee Evans to cancel his gig so they could sort the drains out. Since then the pee wafting has improved significantly, but every so often a mild waft returns.

You likely have your tickets for the film in advance (I wouldn't know I've not been to a premiere)  so these may not be relevant. If you dont or in the future you want to return to this branch just as a regular customer.

2) If you are just buyng tickets and don't want popcorn go to the ice cream counter as it's quicker. They can only sell tickets, fizzy drinks and ice cream, not popcorn, nachos etc. that are on the main counter. This means you get served quicker. Rather stupidly this branch doesn't have a seperate box office manned by a person. It's done at the food counters. The box office are machines (only take crads) downstairs in the public concourse.

3) Lately they have been getting silly with Unlimited card holders. The policy is you are supposed to show the ticket checker your card when you give him/her your ticket. Usually they don't bother but lately they have been. Whether its ecause it's new staff so they are doing what they are trained and later will lose interest and not bother I don't know. So if you have a unlimited card dont put it back in your purse or wallet as you will have to take it out again whilst also holding a cup and food.

These bottom two probably wont apply to you for this, but it may be useful for some people.

Edited by cunningham1471, 06 March 2012 - 09:04 AM.

[naurarwen_fangorn]

Thanks for the info hun. Very useful. Shoul dbe fun I'm really looking forwards to it.

[cunningham1471]

naurarwen_fangorn, on Mar 6 2012, 02:12 PM, said:

Thanks for the info hun. Very useful. Shoul dbe fun I'm really looking forwards to it.

You're welcome. Depending on how you are getting to the O2 I can suggest places to eat within walking distance (30 minutes) that are cheaper than the O2 and less crowded.
Also for anyone driving to the O2 be warned you may (defintely will if there ia a show within the arena itself) get absolutely slaughtered for car parking there. You're looking in the region of £25-£30 a time.

If you or anyone are driving to the O2 let me know and I'll see if I can help with possible alternatives if you want them.

[Holly]

Anyone know when all the barriers and things tend to go up? I've just got this vision of me and my friend standing around not having a clue where to go    Do we stay outside? Go inside? Tag along/stalk other people who look like they may be HG fans?    

[cunningham1471]

Holly, on Mar 6 2012, 05:33 PM, said:

Anyone know when all the barriers and things tend to go up? I've just got this vision of me and my friend standing around not having a clue where to go    Do we stay outside? Go inside? Tag along/stalk other people who look like they may be HG fans?    

Depending on the set up and which entrance they are using and of course how elaborate the set up is I would say the day before. When they had The Brits last week or the week before they were putting up the barriers, wind/rain breakers and the red carpet the day before.

What date is the premiere? I'll take a wander down there the day before and see if anything is being set up, maybe take a few pictures if it's worth taking any.

[naurarwen_fangorn]

cunningham1471, on Mar 6 2012, 06:25 PM, said:

Holly, on Mar 6 2012, 05:33 PM, said:

Anyone know when all the barriers and things tend to go up? I've just got this vision of me and my friend standing around not having a clue where to go    Do we stay outside? Go inside? Tag along/stalk other people who look like they may be HG fans?    

Depending on the set up and which entrance they are using and of course how elaborate the set up is I would say the day before. When they had The Brits last week or the week before they were putting up the barriers, wind/rain breakers and the red carpet the day before.

What date is the premiere? I'll take a wander down there the day before and see if anything is being set up, maybe take a few pictures if it's worth taking any.

The premieres on the 14th. We are tubing to North Greenwich so should be okay. I think we're gonna grab some food after but the likelihood is we will grab it from closer to Euston as thats where we're all getting trains from. Eh a few names for places for lunch might be good though as not sure when we will be eating and I'll be wanting food and most likely insulin at some point during the day. Thanks for all the info though hun your an absolute star

[Talie]

cunningham1471, on Mar 6 2012, 09:03 AM, said:

I'm assuming by the O2 you are talking about the O2 in Greenwich. If you are they will likely only ask you to go through metal detectors if you look suspicious or possibly middle easten.
I've been to the O" both to the arena, the O2indigo and the cinema, which is one of my local ones and have never ever been stopped let alone asked to go through their two metal detectors despite the fact I'm carrying a bag. Usually they just don't bother using the metal detectors. Strangely the very few people I have seen getting stpped and asked to go through it look like they are for the want of a better term "foreigners" all though they could of course have been born in the UK.

I lived in greenwich all last year and went in and out the o2 about 100 times and NEVER saw any weird correlation like that infact ive only legit seen randomers. ive been pulled a few times

[Holly]

cunningham1471, on Mar 6 2012, 06:25 PM, said:

Depending on the set up and which entrance they are using and of course how elaborate the set up is I would say the day before. When they had The Brits last week or the week before they were putting up the barriers, wind/rain breakers and the red carpet the day before.

What date is the premiere? I'll take a wander down there the day before and see if anything is being set up, maybe take a few pictures if it's worth taking any.

Aw thank you, that's really sweet of you :)

[cunningham1471]

Talie, on Mar 6 2012, 07:52 PM, said:

cunningham1471, on Mar 6 2012, 09:03 AM, said:

I'm assuming by the O2 you are talking about the O2 in Greenwich. If you are they will likely only ask you to go through metal detectors if you look suspicious or possibly middle easten.
I've been to the O2 both to the arena, the O2indigo and the cinema, which is one of my local ones and have never ever been stopped let alone asked to go through their two metal detectors despite the fact I'm carrying a bag. Usually they just don't bother using the metal detectors. Strangely the very few people I have seen getting stpped and asked to go through it look like they are for the want of a better term "foreigners" all though they could of course have been born in the UK.

I lived in greenwich all last year and went in and out the o2 about 100 times and NEVER saw any weird correlation like that infact ive only legit seen randomers. ive been pulled a few times

That's great you've seen that. The reason what I stoof out before to me was because as you know people are walking in and out of the O2 a lot with bags and they aren't looked at twice, yet for some reason others would get pulled to be checked for no reason. Maybe it's because I usually go there during the day to the cinema and the O2 is so quiet they are bored so stop some people.
The main thing is people don't worry about security and metal detectors as the odds are in their favour they won't be stopped and their bags searched.

I had to laugh (sorry) that you've been pulled a few times. I go into the O2 almost weekly, sometimes 2-3 times a week depending on what films are out as well as meeting people for a lunch or drink and have been for about 5 years and have never been stopped once. The first few times I even said to the security as I walked in do you need to check my bags and the said no so I just carried on to the cinema.
I've never realised that I look so angelic and trustworthy.

[bl00djunkie]

Holly, on Mar 6 2012, 05:33 PM, said:

Anyone know when all the barriers and things tend to go up? I've just got this vision of me and my friend standing around not having a clue where to go    Do we stay outside? Go inside? Tag along/stalk other people who look like they may be HG fans?    

The last prem i did there we all lined up until the o2 opened, then we were taken in in small groups (via the security) then led down to the barriers.

[Holly]

Just read this on the FB group:

With one week to go before Director Gary Ross unveils his stellar cast at the European premiere of THE HUNGER GAMES Lionsgate UK is pleased to announce that 200 lucky fans will be given the chance to see the film with the stars at the Cineworld at The O2.

Wristbands will be distributed on the day at The O2, Greenwich to the first 200 fans who present their copy of Wednesday’s London Metro Newspaper opened at the page with the Premiere Advert printed from 2pm. Wristbands will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis from 3pm, and you must be present to receive your individual wrist band. Winners will then be positioned in VIP viewing area to watch the stars walk the red carpet and also given a ticket to watch the film at the European Premiere at the Cineworld at The O2, Greenwich. The wristbands must be worn by all fans until the premiere is over, and any wristband that has been tampered with or removed will be invalidated. Please refer to the rules and regulations on the Metro London advert when printed on Wednesday 14th March for more details.

Where the hell do I get a Metro Newspaper     and does that mean they will be letting only 200 people in? or just that these 200 people will get the good spot? or maybe all the good spots?   and the fact the paper with the ad in doesn't get printed till 2pm?! How does that work? We'd end up losing our places on the off chance we may be one of the 200   oooo decisions.

[naurarwen_fangorn]

I think there will be a seperate pen for the winners of this. It is a bit of a pain that they don't sell it till 2pm as my friend reckons they will close the pens at 4pm so you will be rushing round to find it. Maybe there is a shop close by that will be selling it. Would love to win it but a bit worried that they will but the pen out of the way and therefore may miss out on pics/autos from some of the stars. Would have loved to have seen the movie early but also worried about missing my train home as well

[Holly]

Hmm yeah I think I'll be giving that a miss then, would have been nice to go VIP but is it really worth the risk? 2pm, honestly what a stupid time. Don't fancy like getting majorly stressed out thank you very much  

[cunningham1471]

Holly, on Mar 8 2012, 01:54 PM, said:

Where the hell do I get a Metro Newspaper     and does that mean they will be letting only 200 people in? or just that these 200 people will get the good spot? or maybe all the good spots?   and the fact the paper with the ad in doesn't get printed till 2pm?! How does that work? We'd end up losing our places on the off chance we may be one of the 200   oooo decisions.

The metro is a free newspaper distributed at all train and underground stations in London. As they are free they get snapped up quickly by commuters. There will be about 200 copies at the station by the O2, unfortunately that staion is used by about 10,000 people at leasy and they are hust going to work and not tourists or going to he O2.
I'm not sure if the metro is printed once or twice a day. I think it's just once, but I could be wrong.

What time will you be leaving for London on Wednesday?

naurarwen_fangorn, on Mar 8 2012, 02:19 PM, said:

I think there will be a seperate pen for the winners of this. It is a bit of a pain that they don't sell it till 2pm as my friend reckons they will close the pens at 4pm so you will be rushing round to find it. Maybe there is a shop close by that will be selling it. Would love to win it but a bit worried that they will but the pen out of the way and therefore may miss out on pics/autos from some of the stars. Would have loved to have seen the movie early but also worried about missing my train home as well

Where do you have to get home too? The O2 is next to the underground station so you will be in Central London within 10-15 minutes once you leave the station and the trains run every few minutes.
A few years ago I got from Woolwich in SE London to Hammersmith Odeon in West London in under an hour, in rush hour using a bus and 2 tubes. The whole thing including the film will likely be finished by about 10pm I would guess.

Edited by cunningham1471, 08 March 2012 - 05:02 PM.

[naurarwen_fangorn]

cunningham1471, on Mar 8 2012, 05:06 PM, said:

Holly, on Mar 8 2012, 01:54 PM, said:

Where the hell do I get a Metro Newspaper     and does that mean they will be letting only 200 people in? or just that these 200 people will get the good spot? or maybe all the good spots?   and the fact the paper with the ad in doesn't get printed till 2pm?! How does that work? We'd end up losing our places on the off chance we may be one of the 200   oooo decisions.

The metro is a free newspaper distributed at all train and underground stations in London. As they are free they get snapped up quickly by commuters. There will be about 200 copies at the station by the O2, unfortunately that staion is used by about 10,000 people at leasy and they are hust going to work and not tourists or going to he O2.
I'm not sure if the metro is printed once or twice a day. I think it's just once, but I could be wrong.

What time will you be leaving for London on Wednesday?

naurarwen_fangorn, on Mar 8 2012, 02:19 PM, said:

I think there will be a seperate pen for the winners of this. It is a bit of a pain that they don't sell it till 2pm as my friend reckons they will close the pens at 4pm so you will be rushing round to find it. Maybe there is a shop close by that will be selling it. Would love to win it but a bit worried that they will but the pen out of the way and therefore may miss out on pics/autos from some of the stars. Would have loved to have seen the movie early but also worried about missing my train home as well

Where do you have to get home too? The O2 is next to the underground station so you will be in Central London within 10-15 minutes once you leave the station and the trains run every few minutes.
A few years ago I got from Woolwich in SE London to Hammersmith Odeon in West London in under an hour, in rush hour using a bus and 2 tubes. The whole thing including the film will likely be finished by about 10pm I would guess.

I live in Blackpool. But Jemma and I are heading back to hears as the 10pm train means I miss the last connection from Manchester to Blackpool. We gotta be at Euston for about 9:45pm as the train is at 10pm. I'm really paranoid about missing the train as its an advanced ticket so we can't just get the next one.

[cunningham1471]

naurarwen_fangorn, on Mar 8 2012, 06:21 PM, said:

I live in Blackpool. But Jemma and I are heading back to hears as the 10pm train means I miss the last connection from Manchester to Blackpool. We gotta be at Euston for about 9:45pm as the train is at 10pm. I'm really paranoid about missing the train as its an advanced ticket so we can't just get the next one.

The 10pm was a guess. Without knowing the start time of the actual screening it's hard to work out when it will end and what time train out of North Greenwich you are likely to be on. To be honest I think you would really be cutting it fine. I doubt the film will begin before 7pm finishing after 9pm.

If it would help I can try and find out from the Cineworld staff what tome the film screening is due to take place after the red carpet stuff so you know for sure?

The reason I asked what time you and also Holly were planning on getting to the O2 was because I live around the corner from a train station that has copies of the Metro for commuters to read on the way to work in the morning. On the Wednesday I could shoot down the to the station grab a few copies in the morning if I can so you , Jemma, Holly and her friend if she's bringing one would at least have a chance of getting hold of a Metro if it the voucher was posted in the morning edition.

I could then post on here before 9am if I got them and if the voucher is inside. We would just need to work out logistics of which of the eateries in the O2 you can collect the papers and vouchers from me. From then on it would be pot luck with the first come first served part.

Oh well never mind, just a thought! :)

[naurarwen_fangorn]

I'd have to talk to my group as sadly there are 7 of us. Will speak to them on facebook and see what they say. Thanks for all the help hun its most appriciated

[cunningham1471]

naurarwen_fangorn, on Mar 9 2012, 01:07 PM, said:

I'd have to talk to my group as sadly there are 7 of us. Will speak to them on facebook and see what they say. Thanks for all the help hun its most appriciated

No worries. 7 is a lot but I should be able to get that many.

Edited by cunningham1471, 09 March 2012 - 01:39 PM.

[naurarwen_fangorn]

cunningham1471, on Mar 9 2012, 01:38 PM, said:

naurarwen_fangorn, on Mar 9 2012, 01:07 PM, said:

I'd have to talk to my group as sadly there are 7 of us. Will speak to them on facebook and see what they say. Thanks for all the help hun its most appriciated

No worries. 7 is a lot but I should be able to get that many.

Yeah don't wanna cause you any unwanted hassle. Are you coming to the premiere as well hun?

[cunningham1471]

naurarwen_fangorn, on Mar 9 2012, 03:22 PM, said:

cunningham1471, on Mar 9 2012, 01:38 PM, said:

naurarwen_fangorn, on Mar 9 2012, 01:07 PM, said:

I'd have to talk to my group as sadly there are 7 of us. Will speak to them on facebook and see what they say. Thanks for all the help hun its most appriciated

No worries. 7 is a lot but I should be able to get that many.

Yeah don't wanna cause you any unwanted hassle. Are you coming to the premiere as well hun?

Until a few days ago I didn't even know it was being held at the O2. I'm not doing the red carpet to see, I may do the film if I get a voucher and a lucky dip. I'm not sure, probably not as I still haven't finished reading the book so need to do that before I see the film. If I manage it then I'll try for a ticket, but don't mind if I have to wait a few more days.

I just saw that you as well as Holly were coming to London but may miss out on the chance of getting a voucher in the Metro if it's published in the early morning edition and a shot at getting the film so thought that's a shame, I can't guarantee anyone sees the film, even with the voucher, but I can at least help you all to be in with a shot at it.
The same with tracking down who did the costumes so Gemma may track down the material. I was doing nothing so thought it would give me something.
If I can be of help and am doing nothing other than sat on my bum watching daytime TV I'll help if I can. In this case it also gives me an excuse to go out and have a cuppa or a pint. :)

I also have to complete the trilogy before the Con. So I'll have to get reading a bit more in over the next few weeks I think.