UK Drive-Ins: the Detour guide
It’s the strangest summer ever. But 2020 has seen a resurgence in outdoor cinema, theatre, concerts and comedy that you can enjoy from the comfort (and COVID-19 safety) of your car.
Here’s our pick of the best venues and experiences on offer.
Secret Cinema
Secret Cinema has a reputation for creating the most memorable, immersive cinema experiences. Now they’ve teamed up with Goodwood to create “Frankie and Johnny Starlight’s Original Travelling Drive-In”. There’s classic diner food made sourced from Goodwood’s own organic farm and Häagen Dazs ice cream on offer. Best of all, they’re catering for classic car owners by handing out JBL portable speakers so you don’t need a built-in stereo and won’t drain your battery.
Venue: Goodwood
Dates: Until 31 August
Price: from £60 per car
Showing: The Hunger Games, Rush, American psycho, Mary Poppins Returns, Star Wars: A New Hope, Cars, Fight Club, Reservoir Dogs, Moana, Moulin Rouge!, Dirty Dancing, Toy Story, The Incredibles, Pretty Woman, Zootropolis, Knives Out, the Lion King, JoJo Rabbit, Frozen, Black Panther, Beauty and the Beast, Le Mans ‘66, The Greatest Showman, Deadpool, Bohemian Rhapsody, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Avengers: Infinity War, Aladdin, Guardians of the Galaxy, Thor: Ragnarok, Die Hard, Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Luna Cinema
Luna Cinema has taken over a selection of stately homes to offer its outdoor cinema experience to enjoy from behind the wheel. They’ll also provide a wireless speaker for digital sound in your car and you can order food from your phone in advance or at the venue.
Venues: North London: Allianz Park, East London: Printworks, Blenheim Palace, Warwick Castle, Knewborth House, Harewood House, Tatton Park, Lulworth Castle
Dates: Until mid-August
Price: from £35 per car with 2 people
Showing: Romeo + Juliet, Joker, Grease, Rocketman, Jaws, JoJo Rabbit, The Goonies, Back to the Future, Cars, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Dirty Dancing, Aladdin, Pretty Woman, Mary Poppins, La La Land, Notting Hill, Knives Out, Jurassic Park, Cool Runnings, Pulp Fiction, Toy Story, Finding Nemo, A Star is Born, Moana, La Boheme, The Big Lebowski, Parasite, Drive, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, NT Live: Fleabag, The Lego Movie, Invictus, The Breakfast Club, Labyrinth, Cocktail, Grease 2, Reservoir Dogs, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Sister Act, Swan Lake, Moulin Rouge!, The Blues Brothers, La Traviata, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Mean Girls, The Lion King, Toy Story 4, The Greatest Showman, Frozen 2, Flash Gordon
The Drive In
The Drive In , just off London’s North Circular Road, is playing host to movies, live comedy, music and theatre. As well as the films below you’ll find Horrible Histories Live, Dinosaur World Live, music from The Receipts and, er Gals Aloud, plus talks from Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Jay Rayner.
Venue: Troubadour Meridian Water
Dates: Until 30 August
Price: £35 per car
Showing: Joker, Grease, Peter Rabbit, Dirty Dancing, Aladdin, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Mary Poppins, La La Land, Knives Out, Jurassic Park, Pulp Fiction, Toy Story, Moana, Parasite, NT Live: Fleabag, Moulin Rouge!, Blues Story, Mean Girls, It, Mrs Doubtfire, 1917, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Home Alone, Bad Boys for Life, 28 Days Later, Bridesmaids, Jumanji The Next Level, Yentl, Black Water Abyss, Paddington, Get Out, Fighting with my Family, The Shawshank Redemption, Dumbo, Queen & Slim, Military Wives, Sonic the Hedgehog, Bend it like Beckham, Spies in Disguise, Mad Max Fury Road, Wonder Park, Saturday Night Fever, Stage Mother, Dora and the Lost City of Gold, Detective Pikachu, Unhinged, The Terminator
The Star & Mouse Picture Show
The Star & Mouse Picture Show is a mobile cinema with a massive 52-ft screen. This summer it’s based at Helmingham Hall near Stowmarket and Wasing Park near Basingstoke.
Venue: Helmingham Hall, Wasing Park
Dates: Until 25 July
Price: from £25 per car (2 people)
Showing: Rush, Grease, The Breakfast Club, Rocketman, Pretty Woman, Dirty Dancing
The Drive-In Club
The Drive-In Club at London’s Brent Cross shopping centre goes far beyond the silver screen. With Live comedy from Eddie Izzard, Ed Byrne, Jonathan Pie, Omid Djalili, Bill Bailey, Marcus Brigstocke and many more, plus live football on the big screen and even a podcast recording from No Such Thing as a Fish.