I HAVE to admit it - I have never been a huge cinema fan, but the idea of an open-air venue brought back memories of summer evenings out with my family back in Italy, where open-air cinemas were actually quite popular.

So, my girlfriend and I gave it a go last night (Tuesday, August 13) to watch Bohemian Rhapsody.

Now, our own idea of open-air cinema – which simply included sitting on the grass using a picnic blanket - clashed with the harsh reality of a rainy August night.

But don’t get me wrong, we really enjoyed the show and the venue despite the weather.

Clarks Village staff were welcoming and understanding. They gave us a big umbrella under which we could find shelter, and blankets, deckchairs and pillows were also available.

The rain didn’t really affect us, so if you were planning to go, don’t let the weather stop you.

Guests are allowed to bring their own food (we enjoyed our homemade pizza) but Clarks Village has plenty of restaurants on site and if you have a ticket for the cinema, you will also benefit from extra discount.

If you decide to give it a go, you will have everything you need to watch your favourite films in a relaxed environment.

The Somerset shopping outlet is hosting the open-air cinema on the lawn of the adjacent Arthur Gillett Trust, overlooking the Clarks Village restaurant terrace until this Sunday, August 18.

This week’s movies are:

· Wednesday: 12pm Finding Nemo, 3.30pm Elvis, 7pm The Greatest Showman

· Thursday: 12pm Toy Story, 3.30pm Grease, 7pm Elvis (subtitled)

· Friday: 12pm Moana, 3.30pm Rocketman, 7pm Back to the Future

· Saturday: 12pm Wonka, 3.30pm Harry Potter & the Philosopher’s Stone, 7pm The Goonies

· Sunday: 12pm Encanto Sing-a-Long, 3.30pm Jurassic Park, 7pm Dirty Dancing

To mark the launch, Clarks Village hosted community family groups across Somerset to visit the cinema.

This included the Escape Support Group which supports families raising children with disabilities or additional needs and charity SWALLOW which empowers teenagers and adults with learning disabilities to thrive.

Chris Davis, centre director of Clarks Village, commented: “It’s been incredible to see the open-air cinema being built and welcoming guests.

“The atmosphere is very special, and we are proud to bring such a fun and exciting experience to our guests as the perfect way to round off a day of shopping and exploring the new and loved brands here at Clarks Village this summer.”

Tickets for the Clarks Village Open-Air Cinema are still available for remaining screenings, priced from £8 for under 12s and £12 per adult.