Street Food Cinema’s a real sweet treat after lockdown REVIEW
AFTER months of lockdown, we swapped our PJs for proper clothes last night and went out – yes, OUT – for one of the first events of summer 2020.
Usually by the start of August we have enjoyed everything from alfresco gigs to food and music festivals but this year has been very different, of course.
But now that coronavirus restrictions have been eased, we can finally get summer started and we were more than keen to find out about Street Food Cinema, which opened its doors yesterday.
Based in Cardiff throughout August, it does what it says on the tin: mixes classic movies like Pulp Fiction and Grease, as well as some newer releases, with a selection of delicious dishes for you to tuck into from some of Wales’ best-loved vendors.
And with it being a drive-in, it means social distancing measures are definitely in place.
So how does it work?
We went along to the preview screening (Twin Town) to find out if it’s worth the price of a ticket (£30 per car).
The covered cinema site at Splott Market has space for 64 cars. When booking online you are asked to provide the names and contact numbers for each guest (you can have five people per car) to allow for any track and trace for coronavirus to be carried out.
When we arrived, we waited in a space outside the covered area for around 30 minutes (we were early!). We were given a radio frequency so we could tune into the Street Food Cinema channel and the DJs played music to get us in a party mood.
Once the cars had assembled, they were ushered into the screening area and shown to staggered parking slots so that all vehicles had a decent view of the screen.
Two street food vendors – Dirty Bird (fried chicken) and Franks Hot Dogs – had their stalls waiting nearby and there was also a popcorn stall and little bar area with drinks and Joe’s Ice Cream. More vendors will be popping up during the run.
With food being brought to you, movie-goers are asked to remain in their cars, only leaving to use the toilets and ensuring that social distancing is maintained.
The market’s toilets had an attendant outside who cleaned them regularly and offered you hand sanitiser.
After being shown a selection of classic TV ads, Twin Town started and throughout the meal you could order food and drinks.
Stickers were placed on our wing mirrors with a code to scan, which took you to the menus of Dirty Bird, Franks and Joe’s. You could then select your choice and pay online and the food was delivered straight to your car (which had also been given a table number).
We went for the hot dogs – a Cheese and Bacon Dog, a Pickle Dog and some house fries, which came to £15.50 in total. We didn’t have to wait for long before we were handed a brown paper bag through the window which contained the hot dogs which were wrapped in foil.
Both were perfectly cooked – the bacon bits brought out the flavours of the first choice while the mustard, ketchup and pickles gave a delicious bite to the latter.
The fries were golden, crunchy and wonderfully salted. After a little break, we fancied something sweet so placed a second order for two small tubs of Joe’s Ice Cream – mint chocolate swirl and strawberry swirl. Deliciously creamy.
Ever since watching Grease as a six-year-old, I’ve always wanted to go to a movie drive-in and my only previous experience was a trip to one in California many years ago.
Despite having seen Twin Town before, we loved this experience (which may have been made even sweeter after months of lockdown).
It’s a well organised fun night out and as the drivers all beeped the horns of their cars and flashed their lights as the credits rolled, it seems we weren’t the only ones to think that.
Tickets are now on sale for showings for the first half of August, with more films to be announced in the coming weeks for the remainder of August. For tickets, visit www. streetfoodcinema.co.uk
Karen Price