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Backyard Cinema – LA Nights review: Frozen cocktails and palm trees as you watch your favourite movie at the beach
See you at the beach! Backyard Cinema – LA Nights is running in Camden for a short time only
After returning from my holiday to Italy last month and being well and truly back in the daily grind of work and commuting, a little bit of beach action would be lovely right now. I was especially tempted by Backyard Cinema’s latest immersive film experience so went along to check it out this week. Having launched at the Camden Roundhouse last month, Backyard Cinema’s LA Nights is running for a limited time only.
Bright colours and palm trees galore as you follow the trail to the beach
If you’re unaware, Backyard Cinema is a themed, pop-up cinema company which hosts immersive screenings at special locations around London. They have given film fans the chance to roam the Lost World, get lost in a Labyrinth, be roused by a live choir in a church and fly with the Snowman, among their many other creative themes. For five weeks only, the BC posse have transformed the roof of iconic north London venue Roundhouse into a slice of sunny Venice Beach.
Guests enter through the Roundhouse itself and climb the stairs to the roof. It isn’t long before you are taken on a trail, with lots of neon, weatherboard beach signs, fairy lights and a pair of Instagrammable angel wings to pose against. The screening room is ‘the beach’, with golden sand, palm trees and plenty of comfortable beanbags. The space is fortunately covered over so you don’t need to worry about the temperamental British summer.
A Passion Fruit Martini was the perfect beachy drink
After selecting our seats, my sister and I headed straight to the bar to sort out our refreshments. A special drinks menu has been curated to complement the theme, with adults-only Slush Puppie cocktails, tropical cocktails and its own beer created by the Gipsy Hill Brewing Company. We were particularly drawn to the palm tree glasses so started with some Passion Fruit Martini, which were very fruity, but a little boozy. After collecting our drinks and snacks (there is a vegan ice cream stand, which proved popular), we were suitably put in the retro mood with lots of classic Californian and retro tracks keeping us entertained before the movie kicked off. Read the rest of this entry
Mexican wrestlers take over Camden as Lucha Libra returns for 2019
The Greatest Show of Lucha Libre returns to London on 11 May.
© Lucha Libre
Returning to the capital this May for one day only is the spectacular Greatest Show Of Lucha Libre. Turning Camden’s Roundhouse into a sports arena, superstars of Mexican wrestling will battle it out on Saturday 11 May 2019.
Lucha Libre has been a popular cultural phenomenon since the early 20th century and is known for its vibrant fashions, creative techniques and high-flying moves. Spectators can watch in awe as Good battles Evil in a series of fierce and fabulous wrestling matches. The Luchadores will be wearing their signature outrageous costumes and colourful masks as they showcase their acrobatic skills. Lucha Libre translates as ‘free fighting’ and sees wrestlers either be ‘Rudos’ (using underhanded tactics and breaking the rules) or ‘Técnicos’ (using more spectacular and complex rules and playing by the rules).
This year’s line-up includes firm favourites, such as El Hijo del Santo, El Hijo del Fantasma, former WWE rebel Juventud ‘Juvi’ Guerrera, Cassandro El Exótico, Silver King, Laredo Kid, and Nacho Libre star Ramses and the rookie, El Charro del Mysterio.
In the spirit of equality, there will be plenty of female wrestlers too, including the Wrestling Cholitas of Bolivia making their debut. They will be joined by Elizabeth La Roba Corazones and Juanita La Cariñosa.
Meanwhile, representing the UK from the Lucha Brittania posse will be Cassius the Neon Explosion, Pavo Real and Metallico. Guests on the day will also be able to enjoy live mariachi music, DJs and referee Black Terry taking charge.
- Lucha Libre takes place on Saturday 11 May 2019. Matinee: 2pm (family-friendly) or Evening: 7pm. Tickets: £20-£50. At the Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road, Camden Town, NW1 8EH. Nearest station: Chalk Farm. For tickets and more information, visit Lucha Libre World or the Roundhouse websites.
Backyard Cinema Film Festival @ Camden Market: Watch classic, new and indie films in alfresco surroundings
Backyard Cinema are setting up camp in Camden Market this summer for six weeks
© Backyard Cinema 2015
Returning to Camden Market this summer is the brilliant pop-up film club Backyard Cinema. Having already checked out their screening of Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet earlier this year with a live choir, I was looking forward to their next alfresco venture.
For six weeks, Backyard Cinema are hosting not one, but two pop-up movie theatres on two nearby sites in Camden Market. The main stage in Camden Lock Place will be screening new and classic mainstream movies, while the intimate Cuban Screen will feature indie flicks, documentaries and foreign language movies.
Last week, I was invited to the launch of BC’s season at Camden with a screening of this year’s blockbuster Kingsmen: The Secret Service. There’s different ticket packages available, but we had the ‘Full Monty’ (£29), which included the screening, a drink and a burger. Screening only tickets – including seating – start from £14 (Cuban screen)/£16.50 (main stage) .
Accompanying all screenings over the festival, are food/drink stands and trucks, including Brooklyn Brewery, Honest Burgers, The Craft Cocktail Co and Chin Chin Labs Ice Cream. The cinema opened two hours ahead of the screening so we were able to chow down on the delicious burger and fries (with rosemary salt… gorgeous!) from Honest Burgers. We also enjoyed some Moscow Mule cocktails from the Craft Cocktail Co which were lovely and refreshing.
This summer, a second more intimate screen in The Cuban courtyard will show indie and foreign language films
© Backyard Cinema 2015
The screening couldn’t start until the sun went down so we headed to our seats shortly before. There’s a choice of deckchairs or beanbag loungers – we opted for the latter which were incredibly comfortable. As the night in question was a bit chilly, the usherettes brought out some blankets for us so I was incredibly cosy curled up on my bean bag watching the film. The movie was an action comedy, starring Colin Firth, Sir Michael Caine and newcomer Taron Egerton (my new celebrity crush now actually…), who managed to look incredibly dapper while kicking some major bad guy butts! A really funny film.
Overall, the whole evening was really enjoyable. Although the drizzle during our dinner threatened to ruin the evening, it fortunately stopped in time for the screening. The Backyard crew also have waterproof ponchos available if you’re unprepared. The food, drink, seating, staff and film were all great. I recommend getting down there this summer, as I certainly hope to be making a return visit. With screenings of films including Birdman, The Goonies, Pride, The Babadook, Empire Records, Dirty Dancing, It Follows, Mad Man and Northern Soul, there’s something for everyone.
- The Backyard Cinema Film Festival runs in Camden Market until 4 September 2015. Screenings take place in Camden Lock Place and The Cuban bar’s courtyard, Camden, NW1. Nearest station: Camden Town or Chalk Farm. Tickets start from £14 at the Cuban screen and £16.50 at the main screen. For more information and booking, visit the Backyard Cinema website.
For a guide to what else is on in London in August, click here.
For a guide to open air cinemas in London this summer, click here.
Memoirs Of A Metro Girl 