The Origins Of The Wavelength Drive-In Cinema

Sometime back in spring of 2020, as lockdown stretched out indefinitely and the summer event schedule was wiped clean, we started thinking about ways we could make our own fun. 

With several movie tours under our belts and drive-in cinemas popping up around the country, we figured what better way to bring the community together than our own series of open air film nights, set against one of Cornwall’s most beautiful coastal backdrops at Watergate Bay. 

First, we secured an eclectic lineup of surf and cult classics, from Point Break and Pulp Fiction to family favourites like Grease and Fisherman’s Friends, with the film’s shanty singing stars joining us for a live performance ahead of each Sunday showing.  

Then, we set about collaborating with some of our favourite brands and local eateries who could help transform each evening into much more than just a drive-in film screening.

By the time the curtain fell on our final weekend, we’d welcomed over 10,000 of you to our clifftop location for 22 different showings and almost as many incredible sunsets. We were blown away by all the positive feedback, which included The Finacial Times featuring us on their list of best drive-in cinemas around the world, Time Out listing us as one of the most beautiful outdoor cinemas and Radio 2 DJ (and national treasure) Jo Whiley dubbing it ‘a fantastically organised event.’ 

For us, the decision to bring back the drive-in for a second year was a no brainer and so late last year we began beavering away behind the scenes once again to come back even bigger and better in 2021.

As well as a new location on the other side of Watergate Bay (with arguably even more stunning panoramic views out over Newquay Bay and the Atlantic) we’ve got a new, much larger, brighter, LED screen, which has allowed us to add a whole series of family-friendly afternoon showings to the lineup. We’re also expanding the food and drink offering to include a wider variety of local offerings, with the option of delivery direct to your car to cut down on queues.

Film wise, we’re bringing some of last year’s favourites back alongside a whole lot more surf films, cult classics and family favourites. Plus, the Fisherman’s Friends will be joining us once again for another series of exclusive live performances.

Browse the full lineup and get your tickets here and we’ll see you on the clifftops for what we’re sure will be another memorable summer of outdoor cinema.