Drive-in comedy: What it was like to be parked up at London’s first socially distanced stand-up gig

If your idea of drive-ins comes from movies you probably imagine yourself smooching in your convertible while the sun sinks over the horizon. For London’s first drive-in stand-up gig it was different: sitting in a damp car park as lorries on the North Circular rumbled past.

Yet the experience worked. Mostly and moistly. Along with 290 other cars our vehicle was searched for illicit alcohol after a dog sniffed underneath for explosives. Then we were ushered to a parking spot, not marked out, so an attendant ensured we were socially distanced. You can bring chairs and perch outside within your space, drizzle permitting.

It all ran like clockwork. A dinky buggy even delivers drinks and food ordered online. It was dark by the time comedian Daniel Sloss appeared and it was tempting to watch the screen rather than the stage, just like at the O2 Arena. Not hearing laughter was initially odd but after a while honking your approval felt like the new normal.

I did, however, miss the old normal. I miss the intimacy, the visceral thrill of clubs. I miss being stuck behind someone with big hair. But there was a genuine sense of event as Sloss’s provocative riffing about sex and drugs, relayed via special radio frequency, hit its stride.

Never mind stand-up, merely standing up in the swirling wind was impressive. The only thing that got in the way of success on this occasion was the weather. The promoters made the crowd smile, they just need the meteorological gods to smile on them too.

For more from the Standard's writers on what it was like to go out in London again, head here.