Cinema chain plans to expand

PHOTO: Silky Otter Cinema in Wigram, Christchurch Photo: Supplied

A local cinema chain is pushing ahead with expansion plans, despite the challenges caused by the pandemic.

Silky Otter Cinemas, which runs two luxury cinemas in Auckland and Christchurch, is planning to add three more to its line up next year.

It’s opening new theatres in Auckland, Richmond and Queenstown.

Chief executive Neil Lambert said movie going was still popular despite Covid and believed it has a future.

“Movies endure and the reason they endure is because you can’t beat that experience of getting out of your home, off your couch and sitting in a darkened auditorium with a perfect picture, perfect sound and getting swept away in the emotion of it.

“For me that was always key in [why] it was going to come back which is why we forged ahead with what we’re doing.”

Lambert said the world has changed and people don’t want to be “crammed in like sardines”, which suited Silky Otter’s business model.