Rialto Cinemas Newmarket — Attraction in Waitematā

While I have enjoyed watching films at the cinema for many years, I felt compelled to leave a review after my experience visiting last night because it was certainly not up to the standard I would expect. As a person with underlying health issues I was appalled to see just how many patrons weren’t abiding by government mask protocols at the cinema. In the lobby, in the queue to purchase tickets and snacks, in the bathrooms, and when walking throughout the cinema almost half of all the patrons I saw were not wearing masks at all. This is obviously against current government rules , but not only that, it creates an atmosphere where at risk people such as myself do not feel welcomed or comfortable visiting. The relaxing of Covid protocols means that it is harder for people such as myself to go out of the house and engage fully in activities that other people can freely enjoy. I was extremely disappointed to see the staff of the Rialto had not been empowered by management to enforce mask protocols more strictly. I would advise anyone who is considering seeing a film at the Rialto Newmarket to consider again and go to a different cinema that places more value upon the safety of its patrons and staff. For example, I have found the Event Cinemas in the Newmarket mall to be very reliable and health focused in their...

Wheelchair patrons treated like second class citizens. You cannot book a disabled seat on line, nor does this cinema ever answer their phone to book a ticket by phone. My partner (who is in a wheelchair) and I turned up 45 minutes before the session to find out that we could not sit together as seats around the wheelchair accessible seating area were already booked, and due to the 1m social distancing requirement we could not sit together. We were offered for me to sit at least 4 rows in front. Spoke with the manager who initially offered to go into the cinema near screening time to see if people would be willing to move seats - he then reneged and said that the staff were too busy. Our decision was to leave the cinema, we felt like second class citizens. Hopefully the red traffic light settings will be over soon. However, this is not the first time we have experienced issues with Rialto Cinemas Newmarket with staff who really cannot be bothered to help. Disabled people have enough challenges without the challenges of trying to get a couple of seats together in a cinema. Come on Events cinemas think about making it an even playing field for able and...

Have been here twice in the last month, both in cinema 3 and both times the cinema has inspects/moths/ mosquitoes (?im not sure as it’s dark) but enough for them to fly directly in-front of you throughout the film and to project a large shadow on the screen. I thought it was a one off but it happened again a month in between, truly bizarre!

Other than that the staff are really lovely and have a bar so you can take a glass of wine in. the chairs are large and comfortable enough, the arm rests are generous with a platform side table to put your drink - in comparison academy cinemas offer a bar but awkwardly don’t have a good spot to put your wine glasses in the cinema as they don’t fit in a traditional cup holder so this is a small but impactful design feature here to save you holding it in the dark.

They offer a range of kapati ice creams, scoops or sundaes. They didn’t have the flavour in stock on the menu so I skipped. My sister got one...