Drive-In Cinemas in United Kingdom

Drive-In Cinemas in the United Kingdom

The UK has no permanent, year-round drive-in cinema. Four seasonal operators run events at rotating venues, primarily during warmer months. The format barely existed before 2020. COVID-19 lockdowns triggered a boom from 3 operators to over 40 in a single summer. Most disappeared when indoor cinemas reopened.

Before COVID

The UK’s first attempt at a permanent drive-in was the Route 66 Drive-In in Trafford Park, Manchester, which opened in October 2012 for 50 cars. A sister site followed in Liverpool in April 2014. Both used FM radio and offered food delivery to vehicles. The parent company went into administration in spring 2018.

Before the pandemic, three small operations existed: two Cinestock sites at Haywards Heath in West Sussex, and The Star and Mouse Picture Show, a pop-up offering DJ sets and car bingo before screenings.

The 2020 Boom

Indoor cinemas closed. Social distancing was mandatory. The UK’s drive-in count surged from 3 to over 40 in a single summer.

Luna Cinema became the largest operator, running drive-in events at Blenheim Palace (450 cars), Warwick Castle, Knebworth House, and Leeds Castle. @TheDriveIn by Mainstage Festivals toured 11 cities over 12 weeks, reaching over 15,000 customers, with ten free tickets per screening for NHS staff.

Nightflix Drive-In Cinema topped UK ticket sales in June 2020, opening sites across the south of England. The company entered voluntary liquidation in March 2022.

The Drive In at Troubadour Meridian Water in Enfield, North London, generated over 900,000 pounds at the box office, including 115,000 pounds from Tenet alone.

The Drive-In Club

This domain’s original occupant, The Drive-In Club, ran one of the most ambitious pop-up entertainment ventures of the 2020 summer. It opened at Brent Cross (North London) on July 3, 2020 and at Dagenham (East London) a week later.

The programming went far beyond film. Comedy acts included Jason Manford, Bill Bailey, Eddie Izzard, Daniel Sloss, Dom Joly, Omid Djalili, and Ed Byrne. Family shows featured Basil Brush, Sooty, and Dick & Dom. Craig Charles hosted Funk and Soul DJ sets.

The venue hosted the UK’s first drive-in red-carpet premiere — Break, starring Rutger Hauer and Adam Deacon — on July 22, 2020.

Tickets cost 35 pounds per vehicle for 2 to 6 people. Five percent of tickets went free to NHS workers. A Zipcar partnership provided access for Londoners without cars. Food was ordered online and delivered to vehicles by skaters.

Current Operators

Four seasonal operators continue:

Moonbeamers Popup Cinema (Billericay, Essex) — Family-run pop-up at Barleylands and other South East venues.

Wonder Cinema (Newport, South Wales) — Drive-in events at multiple venues across South Wales and the Bristol area.

Drive In Film Club (London) — Run by the Rooftop Film Club team. Events at Alexandra Palace, Brent Cross, and other London venues with a 40-foot screen.

Luna Drive-In Cinema (various locations) — Select drive-in events alongside Luna’s larger walk-in outdoor cinema programme.

All four operate seasonally. None has a fixed permanent location.

Moonlight Drive-In Cinema and Nightflix Drive-In Cinema both ceased operations — Nightflix entered voluntary liquidation in March 2022.

Visiting Tips

All UK drive-in events use FM radio for sound. Bring a portable radio — car radios may auto-shutoff, and British weather often means keeping windows closed. Arrive early. Capacity is limited.

Expect to pay 20 to 40 pounds per vehicle. Summer screenings start late (9:00 to 10:00 PM) due to long daylight hours. Bring blankets and warm clothes. The format pairs better with autumn and winter, when darkness arrives earlier.

Check operator websites for upcoming dates. Events sell out and schedules change frequently.

Sources

• moonbeamers.co.uk — Moonbeamers Popup Cinema, Essex
• wondercinema.co.uk — Wonder Cinema, South Wales
• driveinfilmclub.com — Drive In Film Club, London
• thelunacinema.com — Luna Cinema outdoor and drive-in events
• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drive-in_theater — History of the format including UK context

More Countries

Browse the full country directory to find drive-in cinemas across Europe.