Liverpool’s Biggest Open-Air Cinema Returns with Spooky Screenings at Calderstones
Liverpool’s biggest open-air cinema experience is set to make a hauntingly good return this autumn as The Reader, the national Shared Reading charity based at Calderstones Park, brings back its hugely popular outdoor screenings with a spooky seasonal twist.
After a summer of sell-out shows that saw thousands of people flock to the historic Mansion House gardens, audiences are invited once again to enjoy a carefully curated programme of films – this time for Halloween 2025. Running from Tuesday 28 October to Saturday 1 November, the Spooky Cinema season features nine handpicked favourites, spanning cosy children’s animations, family-friendly adventures, cult classics and iconic thrillers, all shown under the cover of a giant canopy in the Mansion House Garden.
For the very youngest cinema-goers, screenings will begin each morning with Mini Movies in the Mansion House Theatre Room, offering a short and sweet introduction to film. Families will be able to enjoy afternoon screenings at 4pm, while the 8pm evening slots have been programmed with adults in mind – from Hitchcock suspense to campy Halloween fun.
Jen Chapman, Associate Director of Marketing, Communications & Digital at The Reader, said the decision to bring cinema back for autumn was inspired by the overwhelming response to the summer screenings:
“It’s been a joy this summer to welcome thousands of people to our beautiful garden for our first ever season of cinema. We’ve been absolutely blown away with how successful it’s been, so we’re creating more movie magic for the spooky season. This time we’re installing a giant canopy in the garden to help audiences stay cosy, and we’ll of course be bringing back our gorgeous homemade food, cocktails and hot drinks to enjoy in the autumnal atmosphere.”
The spooky season kicks off with Room on the Broom (U), the much-loved Julia Donaldson tale of friendship, teamwork and a rather overcrowded broomstick. Shown indoors on Tuesday 28 and Wednesday 29 October at 11.30am, it’s perfect for preschoolers and first-time cinema fans.
From there, the canopy comes alive with a run of family favourites each afternoon. Hocus Pocus (PG), Disney’s wickedly funny Halloween adventure starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, will screen on Tuesday 28 and Friday 31 October at 4pm. On Wednesday 29 October, it’s time for animated monster mayhem with Hotel Transylvania (U), while The Addams Family Values (PG) takes over on Thursday 30 October, with Anjelica Huston and Christina Ricci leading cinema’s spookiest family. To close out the half-term holiday, families can enjoy Tim Burton’s enchanting stop-motion masterpiece The Nightmare Before Christmas (PG) on Saturday 1 November at 4pm.
For grown-ups, the evening slots bring a mix of nostalgia, scares and cult fun. The line-up begins with another showing of Hocus Pocus (PG) on Tuesday 28 October at 8pm, followed by the magical 90s classic Practical Magic (12) on Wednesday 29 October, starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as spell-casting sisters. On Thursday 30 October, Alfred Hitchcock’s timeless thriller Rear Window (PG) will deliver nail-biting suspense, before Tim Burton’s chaotic ghostly comedy Beetlejuice (15) takes over on Friday 31 October. The season ends in spectacular style with a special 50th anniversary screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (15) on Saturday 1 November – complete with sing-along moments and plenty of opportunities to time warp.
Food & Drink
To keep audiences cosy and well-fed, The Reader will once again be serving up delicious homemade food, drinks and treats. Pre-orders are available for hot dogs, nachos, and freshly made pizzas, while drinks include autumnal cocktails, mulled options, buckets of beer, and bottles of fizz. Deckchairs can be reserved for £5, or film-lovers can bring their own blankets and settle down picnic-style beneath the canopy.
Tickets
Tickets are priced at £14.50 for adults and £9.50 for under 16s, with a 10% discount and priority booking available for Calderstones members. Proceeds from ticket sales will support The Reader’s ongoing work to bring the power of Shared Reading to communities across Liverpool and beyond – helping to connect people, improve wellbeing, and spark imaginations through literature.
The open-air cinema has been made possible with support from Livv Investment, part of Prescot-based Livv Housing Group, whose funding has helped The Reader expand its cultural offer in Calderstones Park.
For film lovers, families and those simply looking for a unique way to celebrate Halloween, the Spooky Cinema promises a mix of atmosphere, nostalgia and magic against the stunning backdrop of Calderstones Mansion. With screenings for all ages and plenty of seasonal treats on offer, it’s set to become one of Liverpool’s most enchanting autumn traditions.
Film Listings
Mini Movies (11.30am, Mansion House Theatre Room)
- Room on the Broom (U) – Tue 28 & Wed 29 Oct
Families (4pm, Mansion House Garden)
- Hocus Pocus (PG) – Tue 28 & Fri 31 Oct
- Hotel Transylvania (U) – Wed 29 Oct
- The Addams Family Values (PG) – Thu 30 Oct
- The Nightmare Before Christmas (PG) – Sat 1 Nov
Grown-Ups (8pm, Mansion House Garden)
- Hocus Pocus (PG) – Tue 28 Oct
- Practical Magic (12) – Wed 29 Oct
- Rear Window (PG) – Thu 30 Oct
- Beetlejuice (15) – Fri 31 Oct
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show (15) – Sat 1 Nov
Tickets & full info available at: thereader.org.uk/cinema
