Film lovers heading out to watch movies due to be honoured at the Oscars tonight face a postcode lottery when it comes to what they pay for cinema tickets, a KentOnline investigation has revealed.

Watching favourites like Bohemian Rhapsody, A Star Is Born or Mary Poppins Returns could cost you anything from £3 in Sittingbourne to £12.75 in Hawkhurst for a comparable adult ticket.

The variation is worse for families, with two adults and two children paying £19.96 at Vue in Ramsgate - and £35.60 for up to four tickets with three children at Cineworld in Ashford.

Cinema goers prepared to avoid the big chains to see top films can get tickets even cheaper at independent cinemas - with a family of four able to selected premier release movies from £16 at Sittingbourne's New Century Cinema.

The Favourite, parts of which were filmed at the Knole in Sevenoaks, and Mary Queen of Scots, which included a pivotal scene shot at Penshurst Place, both feature in the nominations for this year's Oscars.

Yet getting value for money when it comes to watching an Academy Award-nominated film varies according to where you see it in the county.

Cinemas run by Cineworld, Odeon and Showcase Cinema come out as the most expensive, with Cineworld and Odeon prices differing in various parts of Kent.

If you live near the Cineworld in Dover, you end up paying less for your tickets than viewers in Ashford or near Strood.

The most expensive cinema tickets in Kent are at Bluewater, where a standard adult ticket costs £12.25.

Also at some venues tickets are cheaper on certain days and all prices are listed as correct for paying at the venue when arriving, not online, which usually adds on a booking fee.

Here is a list of all cinemas in Kent and their seat prices, from cheapest to most expensive for general admission.

The New Century Cinema, High Street, Sittingbourne

Tickets: General Admission - £3, selected premier release admission - £4 and £5.

Carlton Cinema, St Mildreds Road, Westgate-on-Sea

Tickets: £3.50 Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays), £4.50 Saturday, Sunday & Bank Holidays. Lounge seats, available in screen one, have a £1 extra charge.

There is also a booking fee of 50p per ticket for one purchased online and over the phone and tickets for live shows and other event cinema performances may have a different price.

The Kavanagh Cinema, William Street, Herne Bay

Tickets: All seats £4 before 5-pm and £5 for shows after 5pm (standard films only).

This is also an independent cinema, located next to the leisure centre at and is open all year round and shows the latest releases and also hosts a classic film club sessions on Wednesday mornings with free coffee children under two are not permitted.

Vue Cinema Thanet Margate Road, Ramsgate

Tickets: Off peak and peak prices are the same, adults, children, teenagers, senior citizens, £4.99 and a family of four ticket is £19.96.

VIP tickets cost £2 more and 3D films for adults is an extra £1.80- and £1.30 for children, teenagers, senior citizens. Prices exclude event cinema, mini mornings and special screenings.

Silver Screen Cinema, Gaol Lane, Dover

Tickets: Adults £5, children, students and senior citizens, £4 and £3 on selected films, classic club £5 non-members £4 members with free hot drink and biscuit.

Little smiles matinee, £5 per adult and two children get in free.

The venue is a single-screen, independent picture house showing new releases and classic movies in modern comfort.

The Palace Cinema, Harbour Street, Broadstairs

Tickets: After 4.30pm, adults £6, concessions (over 60s, under 14s, students and unwaged), before 4.30pm, adult £5, children (under 14s) £3.50 and special events may have different prices.

Empire Cinema, Delf Street, Sandwich

Tickets: Adults £6, senior citizens, students and under 15s, £5 and matinee shows £5.

The cinema dates from 1930s with original neon lighting, hosting mainstream movies and monthly classics.

Odeon, St Georges Place, Canterbury

Tickets: Off peak, adults £6, child £6, teenagers and students £6 senior citizens, £6.

Peak times, adults £8, child £6, teenagers and students £7 senior citizens, £7

3D films +£1 adults, +£4 family. Premier seat +£1.50, +£6 for family.

Gulbenkian, University of Kent, Canterbury

Tickets: £8.70, senior citizens and registered disabled, £7.70, students £6 and unemployed people, £7.70

The university venue, open to the public, for films, visiting speakers, concerts and family shows.

Curzon Canterbury, Westgate Hall Road, Canterbury

Tickets: During the day, adults £10, senior citizens and students, £9.50 and restricted view £6.50

In the evening adult £13.50, senior citizens and students £11.50 and children £8.50.

The cinema shows the latest movie releases, art house films and event cinema and a programme of independent films.

The Royal Cinema, in Market Place, Faversham

Tickets: Event cinema and premium tickets £10, standard tickets and senior screen sessions £5, under threes not allowed.

The venue is an independent cinema showing major releases and has one-night film club screenings of artier fare.

Cineworld, St James Street, Dover

Tickets: Adults £10.20, child under 14 £6.70, students and senior citizens £7.20, family ticket (max four tickets, with three children) £26.80, 3D showings adults + £2.20, all others +£1.60

Odeon, Knights Way, Tunbridge Wells

Tickets: Adult £10.75, child £7, teenagers £8, students £9.75, senior citizens £10.

3D films +£2 adults, +£6.40 family +£1.60 others. Premier seat +£1.70, +£6.80 for family.#

Odeon, Leviathan Way, Maritime, Chatham

Tickets: Off peak, adults £9, child £6.75, teenagers and students £7,50, senior citizens, £7.95.

Peak times, adults £11.50, child £8.25, teenagers and students £9.75 and senior citizens, 9.50.

3D films +£2 adults, +6.40 family +1.60 others. Premier seat +£1.50, +£6 for family.#

Odeon, Lockmeadow, Barker Road, Maidstone

Tickets: Adult £11.50, child £8.50, teenagers £9, students £9.25, senior citizens £9.50.

3D films +£2 adults, +£6.40 family +£1.60 others. Premier seat +£1.70, +£6.80 for family.

Kino Cinema, Victoria Hall, Rye Road, Hawkhurst

Tickets: First film of the day: £8.75 (all tickets for screenings starting at 10.30am or earlier Mon to Fri except for 2-for-1 Tuesdays. Kids’ Club: £8.75 (Children 14) accompanying adult is free on a one-to-one basis, additional adults pay £8.75, adults before 3pm: £11.75, adults after 3pm, £12.75, seniors 60+ before 3pm £10.75, members £10.50

Seniors 60+ after 3pm £11.75, members £11.50.

Child under 14 and students 15 and over in full-time education, college or university, £8.75, except 2-for-1 Tuesdays.

Cineworld, Medway Valley Lesiure Park, Chariot Way, Strood

Tickets: Rochester, adults £11.80, child under 14 £8.80, students and senior citizens, £9.30 family ticket (max four tickets, with three children), £35.20, 3D showings adults + £2.20, all others +£1.60.

Picturehouse, Elwick Rd, Ashford

Tickets: Peak times from Tuesday to Friday from 5pm and all day Saturday and Sunday, adult £12.20, members £10.20, retired £11.20, retired member £9.20, students £11.20, students member £9.20 child £7.70, family £30.80.

Tuesday to Friday before 5pm, adult £10.40, embers £8.40, retired £9.40, retired members £7.40m, students £9.40, student member £7.40, child £6.90, family £27.60

All day Monday expect bank holidays, adult £7.70, members £5.70 retired £7.70, retired members £5.70, students £7.70, students members £5.70, child £5.70, family £22.80

Silver Screen members’ tickets are £6.40 for Silver Screen shows and the picturehouse also hosts other special events for toddlers and schools at discounted prices. 3D films cost £1.30 extra per person.

Cineworld, Rutherford Road, Ashford

Tickets: Adults £12.40 child under 14 £8.90, students and senior citizens £9.40, family ticket (max four tickets, with three children) £35.60, 3D showings adults + £2.20, all others +£1.60.

Showcase Cinema de Lux, Plaza, Bluewater, Greenhithe

Tickets: Peak times after 4pm, general admission £12.25, IMAX £16.90, aged over 60 £9.25, child £8.60, students £9.25, military £8.

Off peak before 4pm general admission £9.35, IMAX £16.90, aged over 60 £8.60, child £8.60, students £9.25, military £8.

This cinema is the only one in Kent which has an IMAX screen at the moment.

The 91st Academy Awards kick off at 1.30am tonight with red carpet arrivals set to begin at around midnight British time.