Berkeley Cinemas
Encyclopedia
Berkeley Cinemas now refers to a two-complex premium brand of cinemas owned by Hoyts
Pty Australia. Previously owned by Everard Entertainment, the Berkeley Cinema Group was one of the largest cinema chains in Auckland
, New Zealand
, with complexes in Mission Bay
, Hibiscus Coast
, Takapuna
, and Botany Downs
. After being bought out by Hoyts Pty Australia in May 2010, its Hibiscus Coast and Botany Downs complexes were rebranded to become Hoyts complexes, leaving Mission Bay and Takapuna as the "Berkeley" Cinemas.
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. Before Hoyts built its Guinness World Record breaking screen at Sylvia Park in 2007, the Botany Downs complex hosted New Zealand's largest cinema screen, "The Sumo Screen", with a size equivalent to 519 42" screens, and a theatre capacity of 491 seats.
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, replaced the original Tudor theatre (which had one cinema) with a new four-auditorium theatre, bar and restaurant (previously Akdenis, then Onion Johnny, now Marvel Grill). The complex was the first in Auckland to implement a telephone reservation system, and has four cinemas ranging in seating capacity from 78 to 152 seats.
Hoyts
The Hoyts Group is an Australian company consisting of Hoyts Exhibition, Hoyts Distribution and Val Morgan.Hoyts Exhibition manages 450 screens across 40 Australian and 10 New Zealand cinema complexes; making it Australia's second largest cinema chain. Val Morgan, the cinema advertising arm of the...
Pty Australia. Previously owned by Everard Entertainment, the Berkeley Cinema Group was one of the largest cinema chains in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, with complexes in Mission Bay
Mission Bay, New Zealand
Mission Bay is a suburb of Auckland city, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located seven kilometres to the east of the city centre, on the southern shore of the Waitemata Harbour. At the census of 2001, Mission Bay was reported to have a population of 5235.The Mission Bay district has been...
, Hibiscus Coast
Hibiscus Coast
The Hibiscus Coast is a stretch of the Hauraki Gulf coast located in New Zealand's Rodney District, 10 minutes north of the former North Shore City by car. It contains the northernmost part of the Auckland metropolitan area....
, Takapuna
Takapuna
Takapuna is a central, coastal suburb of North Shore City, located in the northern North Island of New Zealand, at the beginning of a south-east-facing peninsula forming the northern side of the Waitemata Harbour...
, and Botany Downs
Botany Downs, New Zealand
Botany Downs is a suburb of Auckland City, New Zealand.This residential area was previously part of the East Tamaki area. According to the 2006 census, Botany Downs has a population of 4830, having grown 2.7% since 2001. It has one of the country's biggest shopping malls - Botany Town Centre -...
. After being bought out by Hoyts Pty Australia in May 2010, its Hibiscus Coast and Botany Downs complexes were rebranded to become Hoyts complexes, leaving Mission Bay and Takapuna as the "Berkeley" Cinemas.
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. Before Hoyts built its Guinness World Record breaking screen at Sylvia Park in 2007, the Botany Downs complex hosted New Zealand's largest cinema screen, "The Sumo Screen", with a size equivalent to 519 42" screens, and a theatre capacity of 491 seats.
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, replaced the original Tudor theatre (which had one cinema) with a new four-auditorium theatre, bar and restaurant (previously Akdenis, then Onion Johnny, now Marvel Grill). The complex was the first in Auckland to implement a telephone reservation system, and has four cinemas ranging in seating capacity from 78 to 152 seats.