We had a wonderful outdoor cinema experience with the kids watching Mamma Mia at Burton Constable near Hull.
During the warmer summer months, when there is less chance of rain, you can go to several outdoor cinema experiences in the grounds of Burton Constable Hall. This is our personal experience of going to see the movie, Mamma Mia.
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Mamma Mia Outdoor Cinema
I was scrolling through Facebook and saw an ad for an outdoor cinema experience at Burton Constable.
I hadn’t been to Burton Constable before, so it was nice to visit the grounds of yet another stately home (I am a regular to Burton Agnes Hall and did my office training at Sewerby Hall).
Plus, I am a HUGE ABBA FAN not a dance to ABBA when it comes on the radio, but always requesting ABBA on my Alexa. And could listen to it everyday for the rest of my life, and still feel like I could listen to it more.
Growing up I would watch Muriel’s Wedding all the time (another movie loaded with ABBA songs that made Toni Collette famous) and then I missed the chance to see Mamma Mia at the cinema because it was around the time we moved to Portugal and just missed the opportunity.
So, this was going to be the time I finally saw ABBA on the cinema screen, yet outside with a delicious picnic and great company.
Within seconds I was on Messenger with a friend asking if she wanted to come and then within the hour I had tickets booked for us both and our kids. We later decided to bring our little boys so ended up going as a party of 7 so 2 adults and kids between the ages of 10 months and 11 years.
What Is The Mamma Mia Outdoor Cinema?
There are a few different Mamma Mia outdoor cinema experiences, but basically you sit in a park (or a field) and then they have a big cinema screen like you would get at the regular cinema, and watch a classic movie that you have seen a zillion times but love it so much that you want to watch it again, just outside this time.
You can hire chairs, or you can bring some blankets and sit on the grass and then enjoy it with a picnic.
We went to see Mamma Mia but there is also plenty of other outdoor cinema experiences too such as The Greatest Showman, Dirty Dancing, Pretty Woman and Top Gun.
Stay To The End To Get The Mamma Mia Experience
Okay, this is the important bit. Like when we saw Mamma Mia at the Hull Theatre, when those final songs come on at the end such as Waterloo, Dancing Queen and Mama Mia, everyone stands up for a dance.
This part if the best as its like being at a festival as everyone sings and dances like they do at the theatre to the final songs, and it is magical.
We did this before we left and wow what an experience, its like you are at a concert.
Getting To Burton Constable?
Okay, so this us when we made idiots out of ourselves, not once, not twice, but three times. The entry into Burton Constable to go to the outdoor cinema experience is not clear at all.
You see there is the normal visitor entrance for people that are having a day out at Burton Constable Hall, and then there is what they call the works entrance.
We started at the works entrance, and it looked like it was no entry, then went back to the main one to see that it was fully close, then back at the works entrance, which we later found out was where you go in.
On entering via what I would call a works entrance there was staff directing people into car parking spaces, though Dom and my friend’s hubby was there just to drop us off, so we didn’t need to properly park up.
Then once parked, it is an easy walk into the park and for choosing your spot.
Arriving at Burton Constable
As you arrive you will notice lots of portaloos to one side and an ambulance car and ambulance man that is available throughout the event.
Then you walk a little further towards the cinema screen and you will also see a café that is open as well as an outside bar.
Then you will see all the areas you can find a position to watch the movie. We chose a nice spot to the right of the cinema screen.
We also chose to arrive 30 minutes after the gates opened, so that there was less rush. Plus, we were thinking the kids would get bored, because the gates opened at 7pm but the movie didn’t start until 8.30pm.
Let’s Eat Great Food & Get Ready For The Mamma Mia Experience
I planned ahead for our Mamma Mia Experience. I mentioned above that we bought the tickets in March for the June showing of Mamma Mia.
But what I also did, was think about what food we would be taking with us.
Here where we live in Beverley (just a short drive to get to Hull) we have lots of great takeaway options. One is The Queens Head, which does amazing roast dinners on a Sunday, but many of the locals love for the afternoon tea, which is available both to sit in with and take home.
It is also one of the most popular (if not the most popular) for where to eat at in Beverley.
I went in the Saturday before we were due to go to the cinema experience and I ordered 6 portions of afternoon to take away which would be perfect for the 7 of us.
We ordered half of the sweet afternoon tea, which was more the fruit scones, Victoria sandwich etc.
Then the other half was made up of their savoury afternoon tea that included the usual afternoon tea items and also included pork pies and cheese scones as well as sausage rolls.
Though the portions were HUGE so if I was to do it again I would half it and just get 2 boxes (1 sweet and 1 savoury).
Then I paid in advance (one less thing to think about) and then on the Saturday Dom was kind enough to go and pick it up for us for us to take that night to Burton Constable.
Then once we had found our spot, the blankets came out and so did the food and we got ready for the movie to start.
The ABBA Experience Countdown Begins
When we arrived at the Constable Gardens, they had various great songs playing and then it was swapped from a blank screen to a countdown of how long you had until the movie started.
Then like going to the cinema indoors, you had a few adverts and then I Have A Dream came on, and everyone quietened down to watch the movie.
There was no advert in between, so you see people in between favourite songs heading to the toilet or to get some more drinks.
Mamma Mia Hull Review
We just LOVED the whole Mamma Mia Hull experience and would highly recommend adding it to your summer bucket list. I have only ever done the outdoor cinema experience once, and that was at Disney World at Pop Century more than 12 years ago, but I am so glad I did it and would do it again and again.
We also found that there was a lot of kids there and our kids had a lovely time.
The only downside with taking the kids is that there were a few that had too much to drink at the bar when we were leaving so it was a bit loud and a few swear words happening by some as we left.
Though to the kids it was like they were having supper in the park with a movie on the screen and they loved it.
If Mamma Mia cinema is not your thing, then there are plenty of other movies on to choose an alternative.
Burton Constable Outdoor Cinema Visitor Information
- Where is Burton Constable? Often referred to as Burton Constable in Hull because its on the outskirts in a village called Skirlaugh. Skirlaugh is just 25 minutes from Beverley or 1hr 25 minutes from York. Because its in the countryside you don’t have to worry about parking.
- Burton Constable Parking. There is plenty of parking and when we arrived, we were directed to where to park and we could see many arriving by taxi which of course meant even more space for parked cars.
- Is Burton Constable Hall National Trust? Burton Constable is not National Trust and instead has been owned by the Constable family for more than 700 years. It is truly beautiful and well worth a visit.
- Do you need to book The Mamma Mia Cinema? Yes, you do. We booked three months before the actual date of our Mama Mia cinema trip. You can book up until the day before, but if its busy its best to book earlier to avoid disappointment.
- What time does the outdoor cinema open? The outdoor cinema experience to see Mama Mia opened at 7pm and then closed when the movie finished just after 10.20pm.
- Mamma Mia Cinema Prices. We didn’t pay for the youngest member of our party as under 2s are free, then we paid £17.18 per adult and then £10.53 per under 12 so for 2 adults and 4 paying kids it was £76.48.
- Can You Bring Your Own Food? Yes, you can bring your own food and your own drink as long as no glass is brought in.
Pin Mamma Mia Cinema For Later!
Well, that’s a wrap, do you have any questions then do ask below and if you want to refer back, to this later for planning your outdoor cinema experience in Hull then don’t forget to pin it to your travel board or days out board on Pinterest.
