Parker and Longabaugh: The Luna Cinema

On Thursday 31st July, I took my parents out for a surprise for their wedding anniversary (everybody "Awww"). I'd actually had the tickets for this big mystery since April, and I think I was more excited to tell them than they were to find out! We went to Ascot Racecourse to see 'Raiders of the Lost Ark', hosted by The Luna Cinema. The Luna Cinema are one of the UK's biggest and best open air cinema companies, so I hoped we would be in a for a unique and unforgettable movie experience...

The evening begins!

This is what we were greeted with on arrival - the directors' chairs laid out were for Premium ticket holders ( ourselves sadly not among them) and THE BIGGEST SCREEN I'VE EVER SEEN NOT IN AN ACTUAL CINEMA. We were one of the first groups of people through the door so we were able to set up our picnic chairs in a good viewing spot and settle in for the evening. While the venue was still quite empty I took the opportunity to snap some photos of the other bits and bobs they had going on.

The Luna Cinema's headline partner for this season is Benefit Cosmetics, so they were out in full force with their pink Bene-Bus and fun fairground attractions.

The Bene-Bus...

"Put-your-face-here" photo booth, like at the seaside (do these have a proper name?)

Mascara hoopla!

Movie prop phonebox photo booth

You could also choose to have your photo taken on their pink carpet, in order to be in with a chance to win a VIP seats in the bright pink Bene-Lounge, to enjoy the film in comfort and style!

The lovely Benefit girls also came round with samples, with all proceeds going to charity - so I may have splashed out on a few essential items...

The pink carpet...

The VIP Bene-Lounge! VERY VERY PINK.

My sample purchases

There was food and drink available to buy, or you could elect to take a picnic. I didn't take many pictures of the food we ate because it all went so fast aha, but we took some scones to eat before the film and popcorn/chocolate to eat during. We got a little more peckish than we anticipated so we also treated ourselves to hot dogs from Dog'N'Bun, which were deeeeeelicious, mmmmmm.

PS I made the scones *pat on the back for me*

As the sun started to set there were a few announcements and then the credits started to roll... We've always loved Indiana Jones so it was amazing to see a film we treasure in such a distinctive way. It was a little loud, but this was clearly so that the people at the back would also be able to hear every one of Harrison Ford's growled lines as well as those seated at the front! We got a little chilly as the evening wore on but it was nothing a few blankets couldn't fix. All in all we left Ascot as three very happy campers - and have already trawled through the Luna Cinema calendar to see which remaining films of the season we can go to see!