Floating cinema – really
There's no cinema in St Albans (yet) but it has a film festival this weekend, with screenings in interesting locations including the cathedral, the medieval clock tower and, excitingly, the new swimming pool. At 1.30pm on 3 May, children can watch Japanese anime classic Ponyo during their swim (one adult and one child £12, stalbansfilmfestival.com), and at 7pm, brave adults can watch Jaws from the water (£10, including a drink at the bar afterwards).
This swim-along cinema concept, which was pioneered by Bramley Baths in Leeds last year, is one of a growing band of watery pop-ups. At Brockwell Lido in south London in July, film fans can watch Captain Phillips from a dinghy. Sadly, the boating tickets have already sold out, but you can still watch poolside (£13.50, 24 July, thelunacinema.com).
There is a similar event at Jesus Green Lido during the Cambridge film festival, with the audience on punts rather than in dinghies (7 September, cambridgefilmfestival.org.uk).
Hot Tub Cinema involves two big screens and up to 20 hot tubs in scenic locations around the UK, most commonly on city rooftops. A maximum of eight people sit in each tub to watch the film – you can book individual tickets for £32 or hire the whole thing for £192 – and waiters serve popcorn and prosecco (hottubcinema.com).
Elsewhere, there are plenty of screenings at waterside locations. The Floating Cinema is a customised narrowboat plying the waterways of London, hosting small onboard screenings and larger bankside film events (floatingcinema.info). In Cumbria, Picnic Cinema is screening Withnail and I at Uncle Monty's house in Sleddale Hall near Shap, overlooking Wet Sleddale reservoir. Tickets include dinner and camping (£38, 3-5 July, picniccinema.co.uk).
Other venues include the screen on the beach in Brighton (12 June- 13 July, brightonsbigscreen.com); Southsea Castle, on the coast in Portsmouth (24 June, portsmouthfestivities.co.uk); Sandford Parks Lido in Cheltenham (30 August, sandfordparkslido.org.uk); the Hyde Park Lido in London (24-25 September, whereisthenomad.com); the river at Morden Hall Park, Surrey (11-13 July and 21-24 August, popupscreens.co.uk), and Caversham Court Gardens, Reading (starts 12 June, cultscreens.co.uk).
Transfer time
Getting to and from the airport can be a grind – but not in Bolivia. Instead of a shuttle bus, the world's highest cable car now connects El Alto airport (4,150m) with La Paz, 11km away and 500m lower. When a further two lines open, the cable cars will be able to transport 18,000 passengers an hour.
• For the chance to win a trip to Bolivia, visit journeylatinamerica.co.uk.
Competition closes 6 May
We'll drink to that
With UK pub closures running at almost 30 a week, it is a joy to announce the opening of a genuine village pub in a wonderful location, serving local beer and with rooms – plus it's on July's Tour de France route through the Yorkshire Dales. Michael and Jenny Pighills are bravely bucking the trend at the King's Head in Kettlewell.
• Doubles from £80 B&B, thekingsheadkettlewell.co.uk
Food news
Budapest has just gained its third Michelin-starred restaurant, Borkonyha, which serves modern Hungarian cuisine (think crispy duck liver in vanilla and beetroot sauce) and more than 200 mostly Hungarian wines. It follows Costes and Onyx, which were awarded stars in 2010 and 2011. With main courses starting at about £7, it will certainly make fine dining more affordable.
• borkonyha.hu
Escapism
Wooden saltbox houses were built by settlers in Newfoundland, Canada, from about 1835 to 1910. The Old Salt Box Co restores the rugged properties – adding new appliances, keeping original features – and six one- two- and three-bedroom houses, are now available on remote Fogo and New World islands. More will open in Bonavista North on the mainland next year.
• From £75 a night for two, +1 709 658 7392, theoldsaltboxco.com
Accommodation
Z Hotels, the budget boutique hotel chain with branches in London and Liverpool, is opening its first Scottish property next month. Z Glasgow, a stylish conversion of an old pub, is on North Frederick Street in the city centre, close to George Square, Buchanan Street and Queen Street station. A third London branch, Z Piccadilly, is also opening this spring.
• Doubles from £50 a night in Glasgow/£85 in London, opening late May/early June, thezhotels.com
Danish road trip
It is now easier to plan a road trip along the Marguerite Route, the 3,600km drive that "takes you past more than 200 of Denmark's top attractions". A dedicated area of the VisitDenmark website brings together the information in English for the first time, including the highlights of Jutland, Funen and Zealand; the best places to stay; and how to get there.
• visitdenmark.co.uk.
