Customers demanded to see a cinema manager after a viewing of a new film was ruined by poor sound levels.

Film fans were left angry at a screening of The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel at Cineworld in Ashford last Thursday due to the hard-to-follow dialogue.

Complaints were made to staff as soon as the film, staring Maggie Smith, Richard Gere and Dev Patel, was over.

Retired TV cameraman Derek Budd was among those watching the film.

He said: “While we were among a packed audience we were aware of several querying the very low dialogue in contrast to the loud music and sound FX. It was quite disturbing and confusing to follow.

“I did wonder about getting up to complain but didn’t want to miss the film and hoped that the volume might increase.

Mr Budd, from Hythe, said that as soon as the film ended, a group of people demanded to see the manager.

He adds: “As we were among the last to leave, I had made up my mind to ask for the manager to discuss my view.

“We were then aware of an angry group in the foyer who had already come together in order to complain.

“Eventually, a young lad came down from the manager’s office with a pad of free vouchers, having discussed the matter with the manager.

“Many of the audience had already left without staying on.“

Mr Budd, the former chairman of Hythe Film Society, said that Cineworld has had sound problems in the past.

“They’ve had issues like this before,” he said. “When I was chairman of the Hythe Film Society, people would complain to me about sound mix and sound levels.

“I think it is an industry-wide problem.”

A spokesman for Cineworld said: “We can confirm that on Thursday February 26 a screening of The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel at Cineworld Ashford was temporarily disrupted by issues with sound.

“Our staff fixed the problem promptly, and customers were offered complimentary tickets.”