Outdoor screenings set to return to the Bombed Out Church

Outdoor film screenings are coming back to the Bombed Out Church in September with a free ticket show for kids and a Greatest Showman afternoon sing-along.

The weekend programme of movies, over Saturday and Sunday September 2 & 3, at the Bombed Out Church, looks like being the perfect way to round-off the summer holidays.

And not only can you get to see some absolute classics in the open air, there’ll also be a chance to enjoy themed cakes for each, made by Great British Bake Off’s Lizzie Acker.

Six films have already been confirmed and they’re expecting to announce an extra one for early afternoon Sunday.

The season opens on Saturday with a midday double bill of animated family favourites The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child. The pair will be shown back-to-back and one child per booking goes free with any additional children at £2 (inc booking fee). There’ll also be free tea and coffee for the adults too.

That will be followed at 3pm by the sing-along version of The Greatest Showman – the lyrics are shown on screen so everyone can join in and have their own little karaoke session from their seat!

Tarantino fans are up next at 5pm with Reservoir Dogs and then it’s Ridley Scott’s sci-fi horror masterpiece Alien at 8pm.

On the Sunday, the Coen Brothers’ classic The Big Lebowski is on at 3pm and then it’s the first – and still lots of fans’ favourite – Harry Potter film, The Philosopher’s Stone bringing things to a wizarding finale at 7pm.

The church will have its garden bar open all day for pre-film drinks, there’ll be a hot food stand, and once you’re in your seat you can have drinks and snacks delivered straight to you.

For anyone who loves a dessert, Liverpool baker Lizzie Acker’s got a treat lined-up because she’s created some speciality cakes to go with every film – including her version of the famous Happy Birthday cake given to Harry by Hagrid.

Sarah-Louise Jones at the Bombed Out Church says they’re looking forward to getting the big screen up again after the success of previous cinema sessions.

“We usually do our screenings once or twice a year for a week but we’ve decided with this one to compact it into one weekend, and we’ve put together a programme that’s got something for everyone.

“It’s such a unique venue to watch a film in and because your drinks and snacks are delivered to your seats, once you’re there you can just settle down and really get immersed in the experience.

“We hope that will be especially the case with Harry Potter which starts at 7pm when it starts getting dark so it will feel a bit like you’re in the Great Hall at Hogwarts, when you can see the stars above you.”