Largest outdoor cinema in Hong Kong reopens after one-year closure

Hong Kong’s biggest outdoor cinema, The Grounds, welcomed guests again on Thursday after Covid-19 rules forced its suspension a year ago. The cinema is at Central AIA Vitality Park.

“It’s very challenging to build this event and put it together in Hong Kong. We just try to reopen this cinema as soon as we can,” said Simon Wilson, managing director and co-founder of The Grounds.

The government announced a relaxation of social distance measures starting from Oct. 20, including allowing live performances and outdoor eating at some premises such as theme parks.

This cinema can accommodate up to 380 people in 100 upgraded private garden pods. The audience can remove face masks in their booths. But only up to four people are allowed in each booth in order to comply with social distancing rules.

Guests can order food from a web-based app. The menu offers Vietnamese food, tacos and wines.

Three different types of tickets are available, depending on the location and the types of seats, with prices ranging from HK$200 to HK$900.

Only classic and nostalgic movies are playing this season, including Forrest Gump and the Harry Potter series. 

Wilson said that movies in different Languages would be shown this season. The Grounds collaborated with Golden Scene Cinema to start the outdoor shows in 2021, and has shown  local movies, including Suk Suk.

The cinema is opened for three months each year and the current season will end on Dec. 30.

“Actually I have seen today’s movie before. It is a good romantic comedy,”  said Angela Shih, who invited four of her friends along. “ We just planned to spend our girls’ night here. I am really excited and looking forward to it.”

Wilson said they had a great response in ticket sales, especially for musicals and blockbuster films. Tickets for  La La Land and Jurassic Park were sold out, according to the official website of The Grounds.