Cinema in New Zealand Reaches Stars

14 December 2004

Cinema in New Zealand Reaches Stars

Fancy watching a movie on New Zealand’s largest movie screen while you recline in a $3,000 leather armchair, eating gourmet food?

Cinema group Berkeley are set to open the country’s most lavish cinema complex at Botany Town Centre on 16 December. The complex will feature a 109 seat ‘Circle Lounge’ which represents the country’s most luxurious theatre experience.

The food is being designed by one of Auckland’s top chefs, Sean Armstrong of O’Connell Street Bistro and Prime Restaurant on Quay Street.

“It will be the first cinema to offer a personal gourmet food and beverage service,” says Brian Eldridge of the Berkeley Group.

“It is also the first Berkeley cinema to be based in a retail shopping centre and features an exclusive digital projection system which is not yet on the world market. Movie goers will be able to watch their favourite stars on the largest screen in New Zealand at 23 metres wide.

“The cinema has the latest in sound systems and ten 15 inch plasma screens will be displaying movie information and trailers in the lobby.”

According to Botany Town Centre Manager Sandra Livingstone, Berkeley was the natural choice for the Centre.

“Our research shows that shoppers are looking for a little ‘pampering’ and clearly Berkeley has spared no expense in the development of the complex.

“Older Kiwi’s will remember a time when we used to dress up to go to the movies. The Circle Lounge enables us to enjoy the best of both worlds – a return to the romance of yesteryear but with the benefit of ‘state of the art’ technology,” says Livingstone.

The complex comprises eight cinemas, each with wall-to-wall screens featuring high-back luxury seats. It will have a total capacity of 1,750 seats, including 109 seats for the Circle Lounge.

According to Berkeley, the Circle Lounge has an exclusive area for patrons and reservations will be essential. Refreshments will be delivered during the screening at pre-arranged times.

ENDS

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