What to do this weekend? How about the drive-in movies?

Over the past few months Pinewood Studios transformed its water filming facility into a retro Drive-In showcasing some of the best films it has helped to create over the years, including Bridget Jones Diary, Harry Potter, Mama Mia, Slumdog Millionaire, Mission Impossible and Notting Hill.

We took the girls to see a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory matinee on the last day of these special screenings and felt like VIP's whizzing through the studio grounds and parking our SUV in front of one of the largest movie screens in the UK. The sound system was loud enough that we didn't have to tune into the suggested radio station to hear the soundtrack (so we didn't risk running down the car battery). Hot dogs, hamburgers, pop corn, Maltesers and other munchy snacks were available throughout the movie. A few chaps even walked around in uniform during the performance offering more.

After a bit of repositioning the car so everyone could see the HUGE screen, the girls were totally engrossed in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. We are all Roald Dahl fans, and this adaptation with Johnny Depp is very entertaining. It's a bit weird, but that's so Roald Dahl. The girls loved it.

Well done again Pinewood for bringing a bit of Hollywood to the UK, with bags of style of course. Please do it again next year.

This post was written by Susanna, a London Mums Blog founding contributor. You can read more at her blog, A Modern Mother.