Film Event: LA Nights at Backyard Cinema, London

This weekend I made a quicky trip back to London to check out Backyard Cinema's latest theme - LA Nights. With the sand under-foot and a palm tree cocktail in hand, my mum and I sat down to enjoy a sing-along showing of The Greatest Showman (Michael Gracey, 2017). 

That's right, Backyard Cinema* are back at it again, and this time they're bringing summer lovin' to Camden's iconic Roundhouse with LA Nights. By now, you regular readers, will no doubt be sick of me singing Backyard Cinema's praises - (I'm not sorry) - but for those of you who are not yet familiar, Backyard Cinema is an immersive cinema experience created by movie lovers for movie lovers. 

In the past, they've created space odysseys and winter snow kingdoms but this time they've returned for six glorious weeks to showcase a selection of classic films (and some modern favourites) in a sun-kissed, California inspired setting. Complete with palm trees, cocktails and ice cream cones, take a look inside their latest creation...

I was so pleased to finally be taking mum to see this film. My mum, Lynn, is a huge lover of musicals and, having myself seen The Greatest Showman at a screening before it hit cinemas, I knew she would absolutely love it. Sadly we never got around to watching it together during the theatrical release but, with her birthday being next week, this seemed like the perfect opportunity for a girl's day out. 

Having made our way through the towering sunset entrance, inside and secured our wonderfully comfy bean bag seats, we were free to explore the delights of the tent. Luckily enough, the BYC team had very kindly provided us with some tokens to sample of their culinary delights and so decided to grab some snacks before the film.  

First up - for my fellow lactose-intolerant delicious dairy-free brethren, is the DÁPPA ice cream (pictured above). It tastes just like the real thing but is actually made from blended almonds and cashews; served with a selection of delectable toppings in a gorgeously gothic black charcoal cone. These guys saw me coming.

If ice cream isn't your thing though, the bar also has a whole host of drinks and snacks for you - including their famous palm tree cocktail. Ask yourself, if you haven't had a palm tree cocktail at Backyard Cinema, have you really been to Backyard Cinema? Even for cheap-date drinkers such as myself, these are delicious and surprisingly strong so you certainly get your money's worth. You even get to take home that adorable cup so you can feel fancy whilst you drink at home...if that's your thing. Anyway, with our drinks and snacks at the ready, it was time to sit back and enjoy our sing-along. 

All in all, LA Nights is a great way to enjoy a film this summer. For cinema lovers like me who are used to spending a lot of time in the dark, events like this are really something to look forward to. It's  so great that BYC recognise a demand for more immersive cinema experiences and are getting people of all interests and ages excited about film. 

The theming on this one is much more simple compared to previous years, making it the perfect level of laid back. They also offer a great selection of day and evening screenings so you can choose to either make an evening of it or drop in for a film showing with added pizzazz. Personally, I would recommend attending an evening showing as you capture far more of that neon-lit beach party vibe and you can make a date of it. The day showings are ideal for families and the little ones though.

A huge thanks again to the team at Backyard Cinema for giving us the opportunity to attend and their amazing service. My mum and I had a wonderful time and can't wait to see what they come up with next. But tell me, have you been to LA Nights yet? Which film would you love to see there? As always, I love reading your comments so please do leave me lots of lovely ones below. 

Until next time film fans, 

*Disclaimer: As a Backyard Cinema blogger, I was invited to attend this event in return for a review. As always, all opinions are my own and do not reflect that of the brand.