Berkeley Cinemas
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Founded | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Headquarters | |
Key people | Barry Everard, Founder |
| Website | www.bcg.net.nz |
Berkeley Cinemas, owned by Everard Entertainment, is one of the largest cinema chains in Auckland, New Zealand, with complexes in Mission Bay, Hibiscus Coast, Takapuna, and Botany Downs. Berkeley Cinemas was the first cinema chain in Auckland to introduce higher-end seating towards the rear of individual theatres ("the Circle Lounge") offering restaurant amenities for a higher ticket price.
Recently, due to the performance of SkyCity's cinema chain, and its proposal to sell off its cinema division, Barry Everard (the founder of Everard Entertainment) has expressed interest in purchasing the SkyCity chain ([1]).
The Botany complex hosts New Zealand's largest cinema screen, "The Sumo Screen", with a size equivalent to 519 42" screens, and a theatre capacity of 491 seats ([2]). The most-recently completed of Berkeley's cinemas chain, Botany's complex was the first to feature the Circle Lounge facilities - which include a lounge and bar area as well as reclining leather seats in the theatre. The complex has eight cinemas in total, including Cinema One ("Sumo"). Note that cinemas one through three include "Circle Lounge" seating.
Following its purchase from the Hoyts chain to Berkeley's (before 2005), the chain's Hibiscus Coast complex reopened on September 22nd 2007 after extensive renovations - most notably the addition of the aforementioned Circle Lounge facilities.
The Mission Bay complex was Berkeley's first and original complex, and has four cinemas ranging in seating capacity from 80 to 100 seats, and has a lounge-style bar.
The Takapuna complex, which opened in 2001, is the chain's smallest. It replaced the original Tudor theatre, which had one cinema, with a new four-auditorium theatre, bar and restaurant (Akdenis). The complex was the first in Auckland to implement a telephone reservation system. Starting in June 2008, the complex is undergoing renovations. Most notably, the Berkeley Cinema Group is opening its own restaurant at the site - Onion Johnny's.
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