Michael Fowler Centre — Attraction in North Island

Location - Central city with close access to bus stops, a wee walk from Wellington Train station (bus is quick, cheap, and frequent). Car parking is a mission, Michael Fowler Centre car park no longer exists, suggest Reading Cinema pay-parking approx 5 min walk away. Drop-off driveway for cabs etc available on-site.

Customer service - friendly and informative staff, typical bar/snack food prices of a venue, don't go for dinner there (plenty of options close by with good food), staff uniforms look like they haven't been updated since 1990 which is unfortunate.

Goods - there are LOTS of stairs and one elevator, can be tricky when busy after a show for our older population, dated entrance and carpet, modern inside auditorium, seats are typically close together (suggest STALLS row N if you want leg room),no room to store jacket/medium handbag etc, toilets are plentiful and frequently cleaned.

Recommend - Yes, does it's job but...

I love this venue, we have enjoyed several concerts and our daughters' graduation ceremony was held here. On this occasion we were there to see Elaine Paige, who was fabulous. The only thing that took the shine off our evening was that our tickets were changed from front row of the gallery to row X in the stalls. This was clearly because of ticket sales numbers, and I understand that they want to condense the audience to save cleaning the gallery as well as the stalls, but it was still disappointing not to have our chosen seats. Having said that, I will not hesitate to attend something at the Michael Fowler...

So, the Michael Fowler Centre. Went there for a conference, and it's a nice building, decent size, well located near hotels and Te Papa. It's nice. Until you sit down. The rows are narrow (my gf has multiple bruises on her legs and hips) and the chairs are about as comfortable as being stabbed. Everyone in the audience was writhing about in their chairs, trying to get into a position that hurt less than the current one. For anyone taller than 5 foot and weighs more than 45kg, you're not going to enjoy sitting in...