The Magic of a Drive-In

Stranded at a drive-in? Branded a fool?

There’s not a chance of that if this summer’s socially distanced movie trend is anything to go by.

All the cool kids are already grabbing a slice of vintage Americana at one of the capital’s new big screen drive-in cinemas.

Having grown up in rain soaked Britain, my experience of drive-in cinemas was non-existent, but I had some pretty clear preconceived ideas thanks to my repeated watching of films like Grease and Back to the Future.

In my head they are exactly the kind of place Danny Zuko or Marty McFly take their dates for some back seat canoodling on a Friday night.

So obviously, I couldn’t wait (frankly I was just excited not to be spending another evening on my sofa).

Although we don’t generally have the weather for large-scale outdoor events like this, and most of us city dwellers don’t love our cars like the Yanks do, this does actually work.

Alexandra Palace in north London will transform into a movie drive in this summer - Belle About Town
Ally Pally has opened up as a Drive-In venue, and it works!

OK, so I didn’t see many Pink Ladies perched on the bonnets of open topped Cadillacs, but the cars were well spaced out to ensure everyone had a great view of the massive screen.

On arrival we were handed a speaker which perched on the dashboard to ensure pitch perfects sound, and there’s a clever app to order popcorn and drinks to be delivered straight to your car window.

Yes, of course there were hot dogs too.

That pesky old pandemic has meant a lack of new movies lately, but the Drive In Film Club at Brent Cross and Alexandra Palace in north London, as well as Sandown Park Race Course in Epsom have cleverly chosen a selection of classic feel good films which match nicely with the old school vibe.

There are horror films, loads of romcoms and plenty of kids favourites on offer.

The night we went to Sandown Park they were showing The Breakfast Club which seemed to fit the American High School throwback mood perfectly.

It was a night of nostalgia, and let’s be honest here people – those shoulder pads and mullets never really went out of style.

While cinemas remain dark, this is a fantastic alternative. The novelty factor is huge, and it is perfect family fun.

Plus, in May, Drive In Film Club is celebrating National Pet Month by inviting our four legged friends to share some special doggy treats from the safety and comfort of your own car.

So dress up your pooch in a comedy canine costume and book in for some of the best-loved movies starring our furry friends, including Ratatouille and Scoob!

  • As mum to a pair of cheeky twin boys, Felix and Harry, Nadia is mostly very tired. And sometimes she’s grumpy and very tired, but that doesn’t stop her attempting to have a life beyond sterilising and pureeing, even if that means she has been spotted strolling through the Grazia office with a Cheerio stuck to her bottom, or accessorising her fabulous Vivienne Westwood vintage with a smear of dried porridge. She loves lounging about in the sunshine with a cocktail (those were the days) and hates smug yummy mummy types offering their unwanted opinions on her sons’ snacks, schooling and snot.

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