Review: Moonlight Drive In Christmas Movies at Victoria Park in Southport
There is something really special about going to the movies. And at Christmas time – even more so.
While many of my happiest memories are from times spent in movie theatres, I have never been to enjoy a drive-in movie until now, and neither had my wife or two daughters (6 and 11).
Moonlight Drive In UK, owned by local Southport businessman Scott Mackin, has brought this novel festive experience to Victoria Park in Southport this December.
They opened last night (Friday) with Home Alone (6pm) followed by Love Actually (8.30pm). Saturday movies include Frozen (2.30pm), Home Alone 2 (6pm) and Last Christmas (8.30pm).
Sunday sees Elf (2.30pm), The Muppets Christmas Carol (6pm) and How The Grinch Stole Christmas (8.30pm).
Bookings are available here: www.moonlightdrivein.co.uk
Other movies coming up include: Polar Express, Nativity, Nativity 2, The Santa Clause, Deck The Halls, and Jingle All The Way.
Older movie-goers will love films including Die Hard, Die Hard 2, It’s A Wonderful Life, Love Actually and Last Christmas.
There will be a choice of film times too with matinees at 2.30pm, early evening showings at 6pm and later evening screenings at 8.30pm.
We were in to see Home Alone, a real Christmas classic that you can never watch too many times!
We drove in via the Rotten Row entrance, just next to the Ho Lee Chow restaurant building.
They have even installed half a kilometre of festoon lighting along the pathways to light up the way!
The event was really well organised. There were lots of marshals on site, directing cars around a clear one-way system, directing us exactly where to park for the best view, and then guiding all the cars off at the end.
We were even greeted by a pair of cheeky Starkidz elves which was a lovely touch!
Once settled down, we tuned our car radio into the right 87.7 FM frequency to enjoy the film as the credits rolled. The sound quality was excellent, with stewards again on hand to support anyone who needed it.
While comedian Micky Flanagan has become famous for his ‘Out Out!’ catchphrase, this was more of an ‘’Out In’ experience!
There’s no need to dress up, or be seen to be seen. My youngest daughter was comfy in her onesie. We were cosy in our own space, with blankets from home and a handy supply of teddies for our youngest. We didn’t have to sit among a crowd of people, there was just us, which was lovely.
We didn’t enter a big cinema to be faced to a big counter of extortionately priced sweets and drinks. We took our own bag of treats and drinks.
We also tried out the Moonlight Drive In’s handy service of ordering direct to cars!
They have teamed up with local Southport company Cake Corner to provide a great choice of food and drinks, including bacon and sausage barns, toasties, fries, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, cold drinks, popcorn, and of course Cake Corner’s famous treats including chocolate brownies and blondies. Our youngest daughter is a huge fan of their chocolate Oreo brownies so was delighted when she saw one hand delivered to her!
You order via their website and within a couple of minutes the food or drink is delivered direct to your car window.
We loved the movie – how can you not enjoy Home Alone! It was a real family favourite.
At the end we drove off and were back home, via a very fortuitous meeting with the Southport Hesketh Round Table as they delivered Christmas cheer to local people. A wave from Santa really topped off the night!
It was door to door entertainment; never leaving the car; never having to find a parking space or pay for parking. Ease, comfort, and lots of enjoyment.
It was a great novelty, and we really enjoyed the experience of trying it out.
There is a great range of Christmas movies available for people of all ages and times to suit.
There are lots of great things happening in Southport with ice skating also on at Victoria Park, Santa and Elf visits at Southport Market, pantomimes at The Atkinson and the Little Theatre, a Gingerbread Trail in Southport town centre, Christmas carriage rides, a Christmas Grotto, Silcock’s Carousel, Christmas shopping and so much more.
These new Christmas Drive In movies just add to the magic of Christmas in Southport.
- Moonlight Drive In takes place at Victoria Park, Southport, 9th–18th December 2022. Book tickets here: www.moonlightdrivein.co.uk You can also book tickets on the gate on the night, while spaces are still available. Follow @MoonlightDriveInUK on social media on Facebook: Link Here Instagram: Link Here
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