Cinema and Sausages, Queen’s Park

Along with BBQs in the park, walking along the river with an ice-cream and sweltering up against someone on the tube, outdoor cinema screenings are a sure sign of summer in the city. Yes, summer may now officially be over, but after the July and August we’ve had, surely we’re owed a few more sunny days?

Roving cinema house, The Nomad (part of Notting Hill’s independent cinema, The Lexi) have been popping up in Queen’s Park for the last few weeks showing old classics such as The Graduate and The Goonies. The last of their summer screenings, The Big Lebowski, will be shown this coming Saturday, so make haste if you don’t want to miss out.

Doors open at 6pm for a 7.30pm screening, and it’s worth getting there early to avoid the queues, if not just to snoop on what everyone has brought for dinner. With Magic radio setting the scene, the grass is scattered with rugs and picnics, some grander than others. Some poor souls pick at a homemade pasta salad, straight out of the tupperware, while their neighbours live it up with plastic wine glasses, cava and a quiche from M&S. But really, why would you bring a picnic when you have hot food from Salt Yard Group – the dream team behind Salt Yard, Dehesa and Opera Tavern – on offer?

On the menu are Iberico burgers, goat’s cheese-stuffed courgette flowers and gazpacho, along with a few extras. Be warned though – by 7.30pm the queue is at least 20 minutes long and there’s always the risk that by the time you reach the front, that one plate you were looking forward to will have just been soul-crushingly scored through on the blackboard, replaced with the damning statement, ‘sold out’.  The salted caramel ice-cream and paprika popcorn are a pretty safe bet though, and prices are reasonable, ranging from £3 for their homemade pistachio and bitter chocolate fudge to £6 for an Iberico hot dog.

True, it’s possible to catch the film from the other side of the red ticker tape but if you want a decent view of the screen, free samples (such as ground coffee and an iced drink) and access to Salt Yard’s excellent food, then it’s worth shelling out the £12.50 for a ticket. Bring a blanket (or buy one for £10 on the night) and a sweatshirt (or fleece/duvet/space blanket), then settle down and enjoy the last throes of summer, while it lasts.

The Big Lebowski will be screened at 7.30pm on Saturday 22 September at:

The Nomad  Cinema
Queen’s Park
Harvist Road
NW6 6SG

You can buy tickets via Wegottickets. For more information, visit whereisthenomad.com and thelexicinema.com

Photo by Sarah Cobbold