fbpx

Frequently asked questions

We understand, you’ve got questions. We love an inquisitive mind. Take a look at our FAQs below, if you’re still none the wiser then e-mail info@alfrescofilm.co.uk and we’ll do our best to help…

Coming to one of our screenings?
Do screenings get cancelled due to bad weather?

We’ll always try to carry on regardless of the weather. However, if we do have to cancel due to bad weather (very heavy, prolonged rain, high winds or lightning) we’ll offer replacement tickets for a re-scheduled date wherever possible. Keep one eye on the weather forecast, our website and social media channels before the event. We’ll also e-mail and/or call all customers in the event of postponement or cancellation. In the event of cancellation all customers will be refunded (minus booking fee, which is 21p plus 1.5% of total order value).

What should I wear?

It’s sensible to bring blankets or extra layers to add as needed as night falls; hot summer days can become balmy summer evenings and then chilly summer nights even during a heatwave! Rain showers have occasionally crept up on us too, probably best to have something waterproof with you, just in case. No umbrellas are allowed once the film begins though, they tend to upset the people sitting behind you. Bring a torch too, or use the light on your phone. These things are pretty handy after dark, and some of our venues get REALLY dark!

How and when will I receive my tickets?

Tickets are e-mailed to you within 24 hours of booking. Ideally you should simply show them to us on your phone on the night, or print them off and bring them along if you prefer, although it’s better for the environment if you don’t. We don’t print and post physical tickets either. It’s a green thing.

Please check your spam or trash folder for your confirmation and/or tickets if you don’t see them in your in-box. If you do find them in your spam folder, please make sure you add info@alfrescofilm.co.uk to your ‘safe senders’ list as we’ll send you further useful information regarding the screening as the date approaches.

What if I forget my tickets?

You silly sausage. Please try and remember them as tickets are required for all customers. If you have forgotten, we’ll have a list of bookers and we can check this when you arrive, but it might take a little longer to get in. And the people queuing behind you will start muttering, like we Brits do.

Can I buy tickets at the venue?

If a screening is advertised as ‘sold out’ that will mean that there are absolutely no tickets available online or at the venue. If the screening isn’t advertised as ‘sold out’, then we will have limited tickets available at the venue, but we’ll only be able to accept cash payments on the night. Our events are really popular and generally do sell out, so if you turn up only to discover that we sold the last two tickets to the annoyingly smug couple who got there just a moment before you, we can only apologise!

What’s your refund policy?

Unfortunately once your ticket is booked we can’t offer refunds, however we have no problem with you giving it or selling it to someone else

We only offer refunds if screenings are cancelled, or if screenings are postponed and customers can’t make the new date advertised.

If you can’t make the new date advertised, you have up to 14 days after we’ve contacted you with information about the new show date to take up our offer of a refund. No refunds will be processed after this time.

Is seating provided or should we bring our own?

At most screenings, we sell a limited number of pre-bookable deckchairs (these will be listed as ‘Premium Ticket’ seats on our booking pages if any are still available), and these will be positioned at the front, closest to the screen, before gates open.

Other than that we don’t provide seating, we would recommend you bring picnic blankets or low backed camping chairs. Those sitting on blankets will be asked to sit near the front, with those on chairs to the sides or further back, so that everyone can see.

If you bring one of those camping chairs that’s more like a throne with a high back (ooh, get you, your Majesty) we’re likely to ask you to sit at the back or the side so that people behind you aren’t struggling to see over your crown.

What am I not allowed to bring in to the event?

No glass of any kind is allowed in the event area. No barbeques, tents or gazebos are allowed. No dogs, other than assistance dogs are permitted. Needless to say, no fireworks, flares, weapons, knives, nasty stuff. Let’s be nice, life’s too short.

Sometimes people ask if they can bring their tiny baby along. You can, but it will get dark, chilly and the film is likely to be loud, and if your pride and joy is unsettled and crying, we’ll have to ask you to vacate the screening area until he or she is settled.

Are there toilets?

If the venue doesn’t have its own facilities, we’ll provide portaloos. They’re never glamorous, but they do the job.

What time do screenings begin?

All start times are approximate, and may vary a little depending on weather conditions on the night. In a nutshell, it has to be dark, so our screenings always begin around 30 minutes after sunset, which obviously varies throughout the year. We’ll never start before the advertised time, though.

Do you serve food and drink?

We endeavour to bring the best food and drink producers along to all our screenings. Some venues have their own, in house teams, at others we bring bars, street food and cinema snacks along. We’ll advise on social media and by e-mailing all customers from one show to the next.

Can I bring my own food and drink?

This varies from venue to venue. At some events picnics are more than welcome, however at others no food or drink may be permitted. Also, alcohol is often not permitted, even if you are allowed to bring a picnic. Check each individual screening for exact detail for the venue in question. Glass is also strictly forbidden in any venue, for the safety of customers (both glasses and bottles).

Will there be parking?

Generally yes, but please check individual event information in this regard. We’ll always try to find venues with parking close to the screening area, but if we’re heading into a deep, dark wood or something similarly unorthodox to bring you a unique movie experience, it can prove a bit tricky.

Are venues wheelchair friendly?

Wherever possible we find venues that are accessible for all, however in some more unusual venues this can prove almost impossible. Please check details on each individual event for further information regarding accessibility. Also, feel free to advise us if you have any specific requirements. We like to be helpful wherever possible…

Do you offer carer tickets for disabled guests?

Yes we do. We offer a free carer/companion ticket with each full price ticket purchased by a disabled guest. Simply buy your single ticket and then drop us a quick message at info@alfrescofilm.co.uk so we can add a note to your booking to admit a free guest with you on the night.

Are children permitted?

Yes, children are more than welcome as long as they are the correct age for the film’s certificate. We’re not letting little Leatherface in to watch The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, even if his or her costume is really authentic. Photo ID is recommended to be safe, just like at the normal cinema. Under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult. Children aged three and under can go free, but must sit on a parent/guardian’s lap, unless otherwise stated at the time of booking.

This sounds like a no-brainer, but we do ask that children aren’t left to run around and be noisy in the audience or around the event site once a film is screening. But we know you’d never dream of allowing such a thing!

Are dogs allowed?

Assistance dogs are more than welcome to attend screenings as long as they’re well behaved (and they usually are, they’re trained for that kind of thing). Unfortunately, no other dogs are allowed as this may spoil the enjoyment of the screening for other members of the audience.

Can I Smoke?

For the enjoyment of all audience members, smoking is only permitted to the rear of the venue, and away from the seated audience. Some venues will not allow smoking at all, so please refer to the screening details for full information.

Admittance Policy

Please note, for the enjoyment of the whole audience, we reserve the right to refuse entry or to eject any customers who are considered to be drunk or spoiling the screening for those around them. No refunds will be given in this instance.

Is there accommodation near to your venues?

Screenings take place at various venues. If looking for accommodation at one of our Cotswold screenings, take a look at Bolthole Retreats. They offer various self-catering properties across the Cotswold area. https://www.boltholeretreats.co.uk/

Thinking of hiring us?
Does it have to be dark before screenings begin?

Yes, for the image to appear clearly on the screen we advise starting 30 minutes after sunset. Once we begin discussing an event date with you, we can advise on start times. You can find UK sunset times by clicking here.

You bring all the film equipment, but what do I need to do?

We will indeed bring everything you need for people to see and hear the film in great quality. We can also bring some seating, lighting and all kinds of other kit and entertainment if needed. If it’s a private screening (on your own land for invited guests, and you’re not charging entry), that’s pretty much it, other than plugging into your home or garden power supply if possible. If not, we can bring a small generator at extra cost.

If you’re staging a ‘commercial screening’ (ie open to the public and ticketed or free to enter) you’ll need to arrange the screening licence, entertainment licence and manage the event. We will however help with all this if needed, it’s not as complicated as it sounds! Screening licences (their posh name is STSL – Single Title Screening Licences) start at around £150 per film for free screenings, or 40% of your box office takings for ticketed shows.

Where do I get a screening licence (STSL) from?

We generally use a company called Filmbank Media Ltd who have prices starting at around £150, or 40% of your box office takings. We can sort this bit for you. No worries.

How much space do I need?

For our 11.5ft wide x 10ft high ‘Small Event Screen’ (image size 10ft wide x 5.5ft high), we recommend a minimum floor space of 20ft width x 15ft depth in which we can install our screen, projector and PA system, and in addition allow around 12ft between the screen surface and the front row of your audience, so that your guests don’t have to sit too close. We also need an unrestricted height of 15ft (it’s never a good idea to end up touching power cables once the screen is elevated!).

For our bigger 27ft wide x 27ft high ‘Large Event Screen’ (image size 20ft wide x 11ft high), we recommend a minimum floor space of 40ft wide x 35ft deep, and in addition allow around 20ft between the screen surface and the front row of your audience. We’ll also need an unrestricted 30ft for height too. He’s quite a big chap.

Do we need to pay in advance?

Yes, we need a 50% deposit at the time of booking and then the final 50% seven days before the event date. We’ll send you a booking agreement to sign once we’ve agreed a date and price, and the booking won’t be confirmed until we have your signed agreement. It’s worth confirming the date you want as soon as you can, as we get booked up (particularly during the busy summer months) and we’d really rather not disappoint you!

Do you have insurance?

Yes we have full public liability insurance and a 100% safety record. We come from an events background and although most people yawn at health and safety stuff we lap it up and make sure all is in order, to give you (and us) a worry-free experience – every time.

Can you recommend films?

Oh yes, all day long! Certain films feel like they were made to be screened outdoors and under the stars (Dirty Dancing, The Greatest Showman, The Goonies, Grease, Back to the Future, Mamma Mia, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Lost Boys, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – we could go on!), and we’re happy to chat you through the most popular.

Other films are crying out to be screened in a location/venue appropriate to the subject/genre (Jaws on a beach, by a lake or swimming pool, Harry Potter in a Cathedral where it was filmed (yes, we did), Top Gun on an airfield or in a hangar, The Blair Witch Project in the depths of a forest (shivers every time!), Guardians of the Galaxy at an Observatory, Night at the Museum in a (well, you get the picture). With a little imagination you can take your screening to the next level, and we’ll be happy to stimulate your ideas…

 

How do your screens work?

Our small screen is a beautiful German ‘Airscreen‘, and our big one is a ‘Proscreen‘ from the US, both considered to be among the best in the industry. They both offer easy installation (they inflate), a clean and bright white screen, and are strong enough to handle moderate wind speeds (20 – 25 mph wind rating). We will need to anchor them on site, so our quotes are based on pegging them into grass or soft ground. If you don’t want this on your lawn or venue, we can use weights instead, which we can provide at an additional cost.

What should we tell our audience/party guests?

There’s a whole set of FAQs that might be useful to you in our ‘COMING TO ONE OF OUR FILM SCREENINGS?’ FAQ section, you can view this to the left on this page. We’re happy for you to use this info as the basis for your FAQs too. The most important bit of info to share with your party guests or audience is that it can get pretty chilly as night falls, so extra layers of clothing (ideally waterproof) and blankets are never a bad idea. Torches can be handy too.

Can we project anything of our own onto the screen?

Of course. We can project whatever you’d like; a short film or video, photographs, company logos, messages, just let us know the format it’s in and we’ll work out how to put it up on the big screen.

What if it rains?

We can carry on regardless if it rains. The audience, unfortunately, will get wet. You’d be surprised how unaffected outdoor cinema goers seem to be when faced with a bit of rain, though. We’ve learned to be a hardy bunch in the UK, we suggest! Of course, if you have a wet weather plan and a venue close by that we can move to in the event of a really poor weather forecast, we’ll work with you on this to keep the show on the road.

What if it’s windy?

Our screens are fine in winds of up to 20mph, and if it’s that windy, people won’t want to be watching a film outdoors anyway! If wind speeds exceed this, for safety reasons the screen will have to be deflated and the screening halted until the wind drops sufficiently. We cannot offer refunds in the event that the screening can’t carry on, we’re afraid.

Do you offer refunds in the event of cancellation?

If you have to cancel or re-schedule we will try and give a fair and reasonable refund providing you give us enough notice and we can re-book the date. We’ll remain honest and transparent about this, and will always try and get the best outcome for all concerned. 

Should you/we take the decision to cancel due to bad weather being forecast, we will work with you to agree a different date to re-schedule. If we were to travel to your venue and have to cancel once onsite, the full fee would be required, but we’d then do a return trip to you on a re-scheduled date for half the hire fee plus travel costs. This has never happened to date, though!

Opt-in to our Mailing List

Join our mailing list to receive all of our latest news and updates.

You have Successfully Subscribed!