Movie-goers have given the ‘‘thumbs up’’ to Miranda’s new cinema complex, which attracted big numbers over the school holidays.
Some of the adjoining restaurants in Westfield’s rooftop entertainment precinct also did a brisk trade, while others appeared quieter.
Event Cinemas did not release patronage figures for the new centre, consisting of two Vmax and two Gold Class cinemas and six general screens, but was ‘‘very happy’’ with the attendance.
‘‘We have received a lot of feedback, and it has been all positive,’’ a spokeswoman said.
‘‘The Gold Class cinemas are booked out in advance on weekends, and they have also been popular on weekdays.
‘‘Our Vmax screens have gone really well, and all the kids’s movies in Vmax have been selling out.’’
The spokeswoman said big crowds were expected back for the long-awaited Avengers: Age of Ultron film, which had advance screenings on Wednesday evening April 22 ahead of its official release the following day.
‘‘We expect, over the next couple of weeks, Vmax and Gold Class will be sold out for this film,’’ she said.
Movie-goers and restaurant diners, interviewed by the Leader, were lavish in their praise for the new facilities.
Allison Edwards, of Loftus, who saw Cinderella with daughters Anika, 10, and Zali, 8, and niece Abby, 7, and their grandmother Lois Pope, said it was a ‘‘great experience and I will certainly be going back’’.
‘‘I loved the tiered seating, and the sound was great,’’ she said.
It was the second visit for Brooke Stark, of Barden Ridge, who saw Cinderella with daughters Sophie, 7, Emma, 5, and Lara, 3, their cousin Ellie, 7, and grandmother Kerry Stark, of Menai.
‘‘We were here week to see Home, and I think [the complex] is fabulous,’’ she said.
‘‘I really like the grandstand-style seating because the kids can see easily.
‘‘The seats are comfortable, there is lots of space, everything is clean, the screens are huge and the sound is great.’’
Marcela Ortiz, who travelled from Hurstville with her children Alexandra, 13, and Joshua, 11, and Jasmine Fierro, 13, said she hoped there would be a similar cinemas upgrade when the Westfield Hurstville refurbishment took place.
Lyndel Arthur, of Yowie Bay, who took in a movie with her children James, 10, Charlie, 6, and Emily, 4, was ‘‘very impressed’’.
Teenagers Joshua Haddad, of Ramsgate, Patrick Fedoson, of Banksia, Cooper Kilpatrick, of Sans Souci and Bailey Wood, of Miranda, who saw Fast & Furious 7 were also won over.
They said the Vmax cinema where they saw the movie was ‘‘amazing’’, with good seats, great surround sound and ‘‘definitely worth the extra $4’’.
Inndee Pickering, of Oyster Bay, and Jessie Barclay, of Gymea, who lunched at Grill’d said it was ‘‘a fantastic place to hang out’’ and ‘‘great to have a place like this in the shire’’.
Brittanie Dever and Jake Dever, of Kirrawee, said the rooftop restaurants had ‘‘great atmosphere’’ and ‘‘everyone who comes here enjoys it’’.
Andrea Johansen, of Caringbah, who had lunch with friends at Braza, said, ‘‘it’s beautiful, I love it’’.
Noni Briceno, of Wolli Creek, and Tania Falconer, of Oyster Bay, who brought her daughter Mia, 10 months, praised the variety of restaurants, the outdoor feeling and it being ‘‘somewhere else to go at night’’.
AREA 'CUT OFF'
One couple, who did not wish to be named, said the new precinct was ‘‘fantastic’’, but felt there could be security problems at night because of it being ‘‘a bit isolated, cut-off’’ from the shopping centre, and it adjoined a car park.
They felt it was not as appealing as similar facilities at Westfield Bondi Junction, where the cinemas and restaurants were ‘‘more integrated’’ in the shopping centre.
Some movie-goers also questioned the lack of seating in the foyer and absence of staff at cinema doors.
What do you think of the new rooftop complex?
