Eastleigh Film Festival Drive-In FAQs
Where will the drive-in cinema take place?
The location for all three events is Itchen Valley Country Park, Allington Lane, West End, Southampton, SO30 3HQ. On arrival, simply follow the signage to the top car park where our staff will show you where to park.
How many people are allowed in my car?
All tickets are entries for one Standard or Large car with up to 5 passengers per car. You will be asked to confirm the number of passengers during checkout. Tickets are limited to one per ticket type per transaction. If you would like to purchase additional tickets, you are able to process a second order for further tickets. We recommend 2 passengers per car as visibility may not be ideal in the back seats of smaller cars.
Are there restrictions on the size of my car?
To keep the Drive-In safe and fun for everyone the following vehicle restrictions apply:
Not permitted are:
Bicycles
Motorcycles or scooters
Cars with trailer attachments
Minibuses (7+ seaters)
Buses
Caravans
Long wheelbase vans
HGVs
Will there be toilets?
Toilet facilities will be available in the car park, including an accessible toilet, all of which will have social distancing measures in place. Please only leave your car if absolutely necessary to use the facilities. Avoid leaving the car in groups and queue using the 2 metre markers. Only leave the car in a group of two if helping a young child or vulnerable person to the facilities.
Eastleigh Borough Council, The Point and Itchen Valley Country Park will not be responsible for checking these measures are implemented.
What happens if I am late?
We will allocate you an arrival time between 15 and 45 minutes before the start of the event to ensure you have time to park and settle-in before the screening start time. If you arrive later than the latest arrival time, you may miss the mandatory Drive-In safety briefing and will not be allowed to enter.
How are parking spots allocated?
We ask that you arrive in your allocated time slot and follow the instructions from our Front of House team on arrival to your parking spot which are allocated based on the size of your car. You will be asked to select either a Standard or Large car ticket before booking.
What about Coronavirus?
These events are a space for people to come and enjoy the escape of a happy and fun cinema experience with family, whilst sticking to social-distancing guidelines.
As such, we have a number of measures in place to ensure that your experience is as safe as we can make it:
- Customers must not attend any events if displaying any coronavirus symptoms or are in a period of isolation.
- Hand sanitiser will be readily available at the toilets.
- As much as is possible will be made contactless, including ticket checking and pre-ordering food.
- Aside from the potential for a loo trip, please do not leave your car. This is not an opportunity for friends and families from different households to get together so cars must only contain members of a single household or support bubble.
- Anyone showing disregard for social distancing and the points stated above will be asked to leave.
Eastleigh Borough Council reserves the right to cancel the event should mass disregard for these rules be displayed.
How will it work?
Upon arrival in your allocated time slot our Front of House team will meet you and check your e-tickets, respecting social distancing guidelines, and provide you with a Bluetooth speaker, which has been sanitised for your use.
After your arrival, you will receive a mandatory safety briefing, and then you can sit back and enjoy the experience. If you have pre-ordered food, you will be able to enjoy this as the film begins. There will be a chance for you to order drinks and snacks via Itchen Valley Country Park’s kiosk set up near the screening.
Do I need to wear PPE?
Our team will be there to welcome you with the biggest smiles - some may be underneath face coverings to keep them safe at work and we encourage you to follow the government's guidelines regarding PPE for public spaces to help us maintain high safety standards at the Drive-In events.
Can I buy food and drinks at the Drive-In?
Popcorn, snacks and drinks will be available to pre-order online when you purchase your ticket. You can also browse the online menu of snacks and drinks available to purchase on the night - this will require you to leave your vehicle and use an outside kiosk. Face coverings must be worn at the kiosk and only card payments will be accepted. Feel free to bring your own food and drink but remember to take your litter home!
How will I hear the film from my car?
We will be providing each car with a portable Bluetooth speaker from Skylight Cinema which will be placed inside your vehicle for the duration of the screening. You will hand the speaker back to a member of staff at the end of the screening to be sanitised after the session.
Can I open my car window(s)?
You may open your car windows but please bear in mind that there may be noise and sound bleed from the surrounding areas. Please respect other guests and continue to check for updates as government guidelines may change ahead of your attendance.
Will the Drive-In take place in bad weather?
Yes! The Drive-In events are designed to be enjoyed from the comfort of your own car and will take place in bad weather. Please dress in weather-appropriate clothing and feel free to bring a blanket or cushions. To prevent a flat battery, avoid using your lights, heating or air conditioning for the full duration of the film.
Are screenings suitable for my children?
Each screening has its own age rating, please check that the screening you are booking is suitable for all guests before you book. For further details on the UK age classifications please visit the BBFC website. If you are fortunate enough to appear young for your age, please make sure you bring photo ID for all age restricted films to avoid disappointment.
What if I need help?
If you should require medical assistance during the event, please make your way to our event control point where a member of staff will be able to help you. Provisions have been made for emergency vehicle access should it be required.
What should I bring?
To make sure you can see the screen, there will be no lighting in the car park, we suggest you bring torches for use should you need to leave the vehicle.
When you reach your parking space, we will ask you to turn your engine off. As it can get quite cold during the evenings, cosy blankets, woolly hats and a flask of hot chocolate may be a good idea!
Feel free to bring your own food and drink - we just ask that you take all litter home with you to preserve our wonderful country park.
Can I use my phone/camera at the Drive-In?
Yes, you can use your phone during the Drive-In, however if you are seen recording the film our staff will ask you to delete all footage immediately and confiscate the device. Your device will be returned to you at the end of the screening. If refused you will be asked to leave.
Can I bring an animal to the screening?
Except for guide animals, unfortunately we cannot admit any animals
Am I allowed to smoke?
Smoking, including electronic cigarettes is not permitted outside of your car. If you choose to smoke, please ensure that this will not affect fellow attendees at the Drive-In.
How can I pay on the day?
All payments are preferred to be contactless via card.
Can I attend without a car?
Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate guests without cars at the event. Car rental or car share services are widely operated in the UK if you are keen to join us.
