The cheap seats

BARGAINS:Whether it's at the cinema or the theatre, in a cafe, the train or any other kind of seat, it pays to plan ahead, writes SIMON TIERNEY

We pay a lot of money to sit on seats everyday. Different types of seats.

Cinema seats, cafe seats, theatre seats, a seat in the hairdressers and many others. With a little shrewd planning, these seats do not need to be expensive. Firstly, price comparison is essential before you purchase a seat for anything. Secondly, always look for off-peak services as these are usually cheaper. Thirdly, always read the small print. You may be missing something.

Theatre

The Belltable (69 O’Connell St, Limerick, tel: 061-319 866) consistently offers the cheapest seats for quality theatre in Ireland. Their cheapest adult seats for the touring production of Port Authority by Conor McPherson is €12.50, while the same production was €15-€20 in the Everyman Palace (15 MacCurtain St, Cork City, Co Cork, tel: 021-450 1673).

Matinees are often the cheapest. An adult matinee in the Abbey Theatre (Lower Abbey St, Dublin 1, tel: 01-878 7222) will save you €5 on the cheapest regular adult ticket price (€25). There are also a limited number of €13 tickets available for each production. The best value for quality theatre in Dublin is Project Arts Centre (39 East Essex St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, tel: 01-881 9613) whose adult tickets are generally under €20. If you’re in Galway, the Town Hall Theatre (Courthouse Sq, Galway, tel: 091-569 777) has a great programme with adult tickets often from €15-€18 (occasionally more expensive depending on the performing company).

Classes

The best-value French classes take place in the Alliance Française Cork (Enterprise House, 2nd Floor, 36 Mary St, Cork, tel:021-431 0677). The next 15-week course (one class per week) begins on January 28th, 2013, and costs €200 (€13.30 per class), if booked before January 12th.

Bridge Mills Galway Language Centre (The Bridge Mills, Galway City, Co Galway, tel: 091-566 468) is offering eight-week courses (one class per week) in Portuguese, Polish, Spanish, Chinese, Italian and German, beginning again in January 2013, for €130. As with most classes, the longer the course, the better value it becomes. Art in Galway ( artingalway.com) offers some of the most competitive rates with their 10-week oil painting course (one two-hour class per week) for €175. Next term begins on January 7th.

In Dublin, things are more expensive. Among the best value is Art Classes Ireland (The Studio, 17 Aideen Avenue, Terenure, Dublin 6, tel: 01-490 8403) who offer their six-week oil painting course, with artist Kevin McSherry, for €175.00.

Brunch

Brunch is a weekend treat. But where are the best-value seats? The most important thing to be aware of on a brunch menu is whether the Full Irish includes tea and toast.