Chick Flick Film Night in Shoreditch

Whenever I hear the reductive phrase ‘chick flick’, instead of dramatically rolling my eyes as (once again) grown women are told what type of movie they’re supposed to enjoy, I employ a pleasing system.

I simply close my eyes and picture a small, yellow, fluffy bird, giving the finger. Cute and obscene. That’s the kind of chick flick I can get on board with.Yet, somehow, I found myself lured to the new venture at Shoreditch’s Drunken Monkey, the Chick Flick Film Night. Why?

I blame my very un-chick-like love of the dim sum that the Drunken Monkey does so very well. Sure, it comes on small lady-like plates, but you’re encouraged to order a lot of it. The mojitos are better than average too.

What’s more, it’s a nice place to hang out. Glowing with red light and decorated with a Chinese theme, it could easily be tacky but is actually sort of funky and on the acceptable side of hip.

In short, I like the Drunken Monkey enough to bite my tongue, imagine that sweary little bird, and just generally get over myself when it comes to rhymey, catchy sexism.

The film night is housed in their newly opened downstairs bar where you’re delivered a £12 ten-piece dim sum set menu and cocktails while the film plays. It’s a neat idea, if they work out a couple of the kinks. Though more comfy than your average cinema, it was far too hot in there, which made the distracting whirr of the ineffective air-con unit even more annoying. Also, burning incense at first seemed like a nice touch and in keeping with the Chinese decor, but it quickly became cloying. That said, it’s about a thousand times better than a night at the multiplex, and with London prices, it’s cheaper too.

Book ahead and get there early (my view was perfect but it looked as though the screen would be partially obscured by a bulky pillar from some of the back seats). I lucked out and saw Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and coming films include When Harry Met Sally, Sex and the City, and The Holiday. Oh, don’t worry if you’re a man reading this who is tempted by the above – I wasn’t frisked on the way in to check my bosom wasn’t constructed from tissue paper. Blokes are more than welcome. However, fans of gender stereotyping might like to know that the venue also runs a kung fu film night. You know, for boys.

Chick Flick Film Club plays on the third Wednesday of the month at 8pm at:

The Drunken Monkey
222 Shoreditch High Street
Shoreditch
E1 6PJ