A drive-in cinema is coming to Bristol

A newcomer to the world of al fresco film screenings, @TheDriveIn has announced it’s coming to Bristol this summer.

As the name suggests, this is a US-style venture that enforces social distancing measures by ensuring that cars are parked two metres apart.

It’s run by events company Mainstage Festivals, whose shows include Snowboxx, Kala, ION and Explorations. Organiser Alan Crofton has also worked on Secret Cinema’s Grand Budapest Hotel event.

According to the PR blurb: “@TheDriveIn invites passengers to pull up in their cars to enjoy a whole host of drive in experiences, from stand up comedy to bingo to silent car discos, ahead of watching some of the world’s best-loved films beamed straight into their car radio.

“Featuring a top-of-the-range LED screen, a food delivery app serving American-style dishes and snacks via roller waiters, whilst adhering to safe social-distancing practices, @TheDriveIn offers a much-needed escape for those missing outdoors entertainment post lockdown.”

This artist’s impression is all we have to show what @TheDriveIn is likely to look like

Tickets start at £35 per car, but, rather crucially, the organisers have yet to announce where it’s taking place or what films they’ll be screening at the event, which is due to take place from August 27 to 30.

All they can tell us at the moment is that there will be six shows in total, “from family-friendly afternoons to late-night shows”.

Should you wish to take a punt, tickets go on sale on May 27 on the @TheDriveIn website. Refunds are promised if, for any reason, the event doesn’t go ahead as planned.

Lockdown easing permitting, summer 2020 could prove to be a boom time for outdoor cinema, where social distancing is relatively easy to enforce.

Many of the industry’s usual players have already announced detailed or tentative plans. But beware of social media ads by organisations with no track record. In the past, these have often been data-mining scams and the events advertised have not taken place.

Here’s what we know so far about reputable companies’ programmes.

The Luna Cinema returns to Ashton Court for three screenings in August: Joker (Aug 20), Grease (Aug 21) and the singalong version of The Greatest Showman (Aug 22). They’ll also be at Bath’s Royal Crescent with Rocketman (Sept 4) and Romeo + Juliet (Sept 5).

In addition, they’re advertising their own drive-in events, but no details have been released yet. Luna Cinema has also issued a Covid-19 policy and ‘Book with Confidence Guarantee’.

Summer Screens, formerly known as Cult Screens, traditionally comes to Bristol Zoo Gardens at the end of August, but this year’s programme remains under wraps. You can register for email updates at www.summerscreens.co.uk/coming-soon/comingsoon.html.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8T0f94g-7w/

Adventure Cinema, which runs events nationwide mostly at country houses and outdoor sporting venues, pitches up at Castle Park for two shows in early August: Human Traffic (Aug 1) and The Lion King (Aug 2).

They’re also screening The Lion King at Bath Racecourse (July 23) along with a Grease singalong (July 24). Further afield, they’ve got The Greatest Showman at Old Down Country Park on August 18. This is also showing at Clevedon Hall on July 18, along with the Grease singalong on July 17.

Arnos Vale Cemetery and Clevedon’s Curzon cinema are also usually part of the local summer outdoor screenings circuit, but have yet to announce any plans for 2020. Keep checking back for more news as we get it.

Images supplied by @TheDriveIn

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