The Great British Drive In At Sandon Hall

The Great British Drive In; Sandon Hall, Staffordshire

Time to try something new with a visit to a Drive In Cinema set at Sandon Hall in Staffordshire.  My previous, (and only other experience), of a Drive In was some 25 years ago during a visit to the American Mid West.  I remember being handed a portable speaker unit at that time to place on the dash board and recollect a murky experience of tinny sound, popcorn and disappointment.  This time, I had higher hopes from the Great British Drive In when we opted for a Great British Classic; Dirty Dancing!

The Great British Drive In at Sandon Hall

The Drive In Experience; Tried & Tested

Billed as a ‘summer of film, food and live entertainment’ the grandeur of Sandon Hall works well as the back drop to the 100 squared metre large screen.  From classics such as Greece & Mama Mia through to a selection of late night horror screenings, there are a full range of films to suit all tastes and ages.  We suggest getting there as the doors open to bag yourself a great spot close to the screen as spaces are allocated on a first-come, first served basis.  You can pay extra for the VIP experience that includes prime seating but we found a prompt arrival worked just as well.

The other great advantage of arriving as the doors open is that you can also enjoy the on-site culinary delights of the street food fare. Not your normal burger van to be found here, but a small number of pop up sites offering mouth watering food at reasonable prices.  For those preferring to keep the costs down, bring your own food and drink as you are welcome to bring chairs/blanket for those wanting to sit out the front of  their vehicle, (bring a portable radio if you are planning to remain outside during the showing).

It does feel that the organisers has thought of everything to enhance to visit down to offering a pretty extensive window screen wash & polish for £6 a pop.  If you’re looking for an upmarket option, then select the VIP experience that includes a prime spot at the front plus they’re even serve you food and drink to your car via electric scooters!

With the weather less than amenable during our visit, we opted to remain within our vehicle.  As the audio is played through the FM radio, we had perfect sound and vision throughout as we sung along and had the time of our lives!

Topdog Verdict; Well worth a visit!

Sandon Drive In Movie Experience