A NIGHT at the movies that will be more than just watching a film is promised when Bordon’s outdoor screen lights up again tonight (Friday).

New operator Ticket Cinema will start with Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and has also lined up The Lost City, Dr Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Downton Abbey: A New Era, Top Gun: Maverick, and Lightyear, the Buzz Lightyear origin story from Pixar.

Ben Stonehouse from Ticket Cinema said: “We’re really excited about launching this cinema in Whitehill & Bordon.

“We’re going all out to ensure that everyone who comes along gets a truly unforgettable cinema experience whether they’re watching from their cars or the deckchairs.

“It’s going to be genuinely atmospheric and immersive and we’re sure people are going to love it.

“In the age of home streaming services, a cinema has got to offer something completely unique, not something that just feels like an upscaled TV watching experience. I think we’re going to achieve that and, over time and with customer feedback, it’s going to keep getting better and better.”

James Child, from the Whitehill & Bordon Regeneration Company, said: “We are delighted to be working with Ben to deliver an exciting cinema experience in Whitehill & Bordon. It will be completely different to anything the region has had before and we couldn’t be happier to play our supporting role in bringing the silver screen back to the town.”

Whitehill Town Council leader Cllr Andy Tree said: “I understand the new drive-in cinema will now have feature films, which is a considerable improvement on the previous operation.”

He was pleased that the regeneration company’s involvement with Ticket Cinema meant it could be “directly held to account” over the operation and acknowledged that Covid had affected the industry.

But he added: “My view is that the drive-in cinema must never be a replacement for a proper indoor cinema.

“I understand that the Whitehill & Bordon Regeneration Company still intends to bring an indoor cinema forward in their plans for phase two of the new town centre and will continue to push for this to happen, expecting updates at their public question and answer sessions.”

The space will also host a range of community events. For more information visit www.ticketcinema.co.uk/