Open-air cinema is abandoned as tent goes flying
PARK’S HARRY POTTER FILM SHOW HIT BY WINDY WEATHER
AN OUTDOOR cinema screening had to be abandoned after bad weather caused a bar tent to fly over an 8ft fence.
Dozens of fans who gathered at Heaton Park for a showing of Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone could be forgiven for thinking they were watching a bit of real-life magic.
With around an hour remaining of the film, the wind picked up a catering tent and sent it into the air, film-goers told the M.E.N.
The film then stopped and staff said the event was being cancelled because of ‘health and safety reasons.’
Clare Wiener, from Royton, Oldham, was at the screening with 13-year-old daughter Charlotte.
“I was just starting to get quite cold – it’s a long film – when it happened,” she said.
“On the right-hand side of the screen there was a bar and a burger stand.
“The bar had a tent over it. It just picked up in the wind and it went over the fence.
“Fortunately, it went away from the crowd.
“The wind must have got under the open area and just lifted the tent up.
“The fence was about 8ft tall – everybody was quite shocked.”
Mrs Wiener says she has since tried to contact Luna Kids Cinema, which has organised a series of outdoor film screenings at Heaton Park and around the country, to find out if fans are going to get a refund.
“We got sent an email the day before saying that it would go ahead whatever the weather,” she said.
“It said how it will go ahead and we should come prepared.
“So far I’ve not had any response.”
Luna Cinema has been contacted for comment but has yet to respond.