Backyard Cinema

I went to Backyard Cinema last year, on an over-sized bean-bag on the cobbles near Camden lock. Rugs were offered as the britsh summer chill set in and to be honest I wished I’d opted for a deck-chair. This year their ‘Awards Season’ including films like ‘Boyhood’, ‘The Theory of Everything’ and Grand Budepest Hotel’ was an altogether more luxurious experience, taking place inside the Millbank Tower SW1.

The the idea of making a trip to the cinema an experience rather than merely a big screen was always a good one, where the venue is as important as the film and a little retro glamour hints at early cinema and inspires you to drink champagne. Here the entrance to the fairly uninspiring Millbank Tower Block has been brought to life with a red carpet 1950’s paps flashing lights in your face. All done with humour and no pressure to join in.

Classic 50’s usherettes direct us to the lifts which speed up to the Altitude bar on the 29th floor where we join a buzzy crowd exchanging their tokens for champagne. There’s a feeling of relaxed dating and a comfortably chilled out London crowd. And if you’re not getting on with your date there’s always the irrestibly exciting views across London with toy town boats on the river and all those landmarks glittering in the night. By the time we took our seats back downstairs in the Millbanks cinema, we were in high spirits and ‘Boyhood’ began to roll…

With tickets at £18 for film and glass of champane or £29 for the full-monty with dinner over-looking the city, it’s well worth it.

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