From Twilight to Superbad, or even old time classics such as The School of Rock, The Grove has been offering cheap nights in this past August, with loads of other events year-round.
Luckily for me, I had a free Tuesday night, so naturally I went to check out 13 Going on 30, partly for this article, and mainly because I wanted to pretend I was in a 1950s rom-com drive-in. The Grove is easily spotted down St. Michael's Road due to the massive mural on the side of the building, and after a ten-minute walk from Byker Metro, I arrived. Taking them up on the offer of a £4, New York-style slice of pizza, I grabbed my first come first serve seat on the bustling patio. Looking around, the crowd was a mix of ballet-flat-wearing 20-somethings and parents, happy for the night off with no under 18s rule past 9pm.
If you're a new student looking to break the awkward first-semester ice, events like these are ideal to turn seminar acquaintances into lifelong friends. Or if you're a returning student needing a night off from clubbing, The Grove is also an event space for indie gigs, free burger Sundays, and drag karaoke with queens such as Reese Weatherspooon and Latrine Lurka making a regular appearance.
Accessible film events like this are vital for the arts scene in the North East, giving indie musicians and drag artists a platform to perform. By showing up and supporting events like these, you allow more local independent spaces to become available to more people, meaning more funding and more fun free nights out for you and your mates, so make sure to toss them some cash in the form of pizza or a pint from the bar.
If you find yourself with a need to escape your flatmates' presence or your freezing flat, check out what's on at the pictures, not just at The Grove but at other amazing independent cinemas in Newcastle like the Star and Shadow Cinema and Tyneside Cinema with a range of films for everyone from big blockbusters to the strangest indie film you’ve never seen. Why not see what else there is to explore in Newcastle and find out if it’s really is grim up north?