You can watch some great outdoor movies in London during the summer. If you can”t go to an outdoor cinema in London, you can watch outdoor films at various parks and other open air cinemas in the UK. Read on for a list of outdoor film venues.
Skylight Open-Air Cinema
…And action!
Picture the scene. It”s halfway through Pirates of the Caribbean and Captain Jack is standing on the deck of his beloved Black Pearl, surveying the darkened seas about him. Your own eyes, however, wander above the cinema screen itself, where you there witness the parting of the cloudy Devon sky and the sudden appearance of an eerily bright blue moon. Chilled and yet inspired, you dig your toes deeper into the sand beneath your feet, listen to the night waves crashing beside you, before returning your gaze to the action onscreen. Welcome, film fans, to the newest summer movie experience…
We are Devon”s Skylight Open-air Cinema and we are travelling to beach near you!
…Do you like scary movies, Sydney?
“It”s all about the environment”, says Darren Mills, founder of Skylight Open-air Cinema.
“When you watch The Beach on a beach or The Blair Witch Project in the woods, you have an interaction between the movie and the surrounding environment that goes far beyond anything that the director ever intended.”
…Now, this car could be system-matic! It could be hydro-matic, ultra-matic. Why, it”s Greased Lightning!
We have a massive 8 x 6 metre inflatable screen for audiences of up to 700 people. And we mean 8 metres wide… not diagonally (like those plasma screen TV salesmen insist on telling you!). The screen inflates in minutes and sits on the grass or goes into the sand.
We use a 10,000 lumen digital projector – which means the movie is HD crystal clear. Gone are the days of flickering screens and ancient film reels. We have the most powerful sound system around, digital 5.1 surround sound so you can really feel the vibrations of those car chases – not only through the sub-woofer but through the ground itself too!
…May the force be with you!
Darren Mills adds: “Our screen is an inflatable 8 metre monster, is designed to withstand a force 5 gale too.”
…You talkin” to me?
Our professional team of young staff work with us during their summer holidays. and they love it. Staff member Paul says: “My mates come along and chill, it”s great to do something completely different in the evenings too. And they can”t believe I work at an outdoor cinema!”
…”What Does Mine Say?” “Dude!”… “What Does Mine Say!” “Sweet!”
Outdoor cinemas are the opposite to the modern corporate multiplexes, with their chains of sterile black boxes. Who wants to go to a small dark room anyway? Come and join the experience of going out to see a film, to be together with hundreds of other people, watching a movie on a huge screen.
…Jim! Can”t you keep your shirt on? You”re scaring the chicks away!
Come along and enjoy your favourite movies under the stars. Come with your friends, a date or the whole family. Half the fun is bringing your own seating… just relax on your bean-bag, picnic blanket, deckchair, pillow or even a hammock! Arrive early and bring a picnic, then films start at sunset.
…I”ll be back!
Tempted by the promise of completely different night out at the cinema? Then our outdoor cinema could be too much to resist.
Outdoor Movies Show Venues
We do not know of any permanent drive ins or outdoor movie theatres in the UK, however there are several places that set up open air cinemas during the summer months of June, July and August.
Somerset House, London
www.somersethouse.org.uk/film/
The Scoop, London
Filmair Cinema Services will be showing 12 outdoor cinema screenings at The Scoop, More London Riverside, London (next to City Hall)
Open Air Films Showing at the Scoop Outdoor Movie show in London 2008.
Wednesday 4 June 2008 – Chicago
Thursday 5 June 2008 – Rebecca
Friday 6 June 2008 – The Usual Suspects
Wednesday 11 June 2008 – The General
Thursday 12 June 2008 – Atonement
Friday 13 June 2008 – The Dam Busters
Wednesday 18 June 2008 – The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Thursday 19 June 2008 – Henry V
Friday 20 June 2008 – Michael Clayton
Wednesday 25 June 2008 – Withnail & I
Thursday 26 June 2008 – Don”t Look Now
Friday 27 June 2008 – The Sound of Music
These are free open-air film screenings. They are also providing outdoor movies at the following locations in the UK.
Castle Green, Norwich
4th July
Wantage Festival
5th July
Earl’s Court Festival, Nevern Square Gardens, London
11th July
A Drive-In in Taunton
21st July
The Global Gathering Festival, Nr. Stratford-on-Avon
Two all night screening (6 films) on July 26th and 27th
Riverside, Nottingham
1st August
Hilliers Gardens, Romsey
3rd August
Campbell Park, Milton Keynes
15th August
Connought Park, Dover
22nd August
Hilliers Gardens, Romsey
24th August
Isle of Man
29th August
30th August
Bargoed, South Wales
5th September
Royal United Hospital, Bath
12th September
All these shows are open to the public, some are free, some you have to pay.
Skylight Outdoor Cinema are showing outdoor movies at open air cinemas in the following locations.
Blackpool Sands Dartmouth
Thursday 14th August Pirates of the Carribean Dead Mans Chest [12A]
Thursday 21st August Hairspray [PG]
Oldway Mansion, Paignton
Thursday 18th September Appointment with Death [PG]
Stockton Heath, Warrington
No dates set.
Woolwell Centre, Plymouth
Saturday 9th August Grease [PG]
If you know of any more outdoor movie shows, let us know so that I can add them to the list. Or you could set up your own outdoor movie in your backyard.