Sunday Brunch is the best meal of the week - you can just chill and stuff yourself and the kick back with a movie! If you want to go out though, I feel like I've discovered the best kept secret in town.
So I was excited to be invited along to a screening of the movie, Finding Dory, complete with Brunch at Coco at The Roxy and a special under-the-sea high tea themed ‘Happily Ever After’ for the inner child (she’s truly alive and kicking)!
The Roxy have really been going to town lately with their events. They have already had one called Heels and Reels night where there were cocktails, canapés, goodie bags, cupcakes, stand up comedy – all before a hot chick flick. The event Matt my boyfriend and I went to was themed for the movie Finding Dory - the long awaited sequel to Finding Nemo.
But before I get carried away, let me talk about The Roxy and other movie cinemas in Wellington. While I had never been to The Roxy yet (shame on me!), I have always LOVED Art House cinemas, like the Paramount, Empire in Island Bay or the Penthouse in Brooklyn. It originally came out of a fear of bumping into my friends at Reading Cinemas when I was going to see movies with my Mum and Dad as a teenager. It’s now an enthusiasm for the old world charm of little movie theatres.
The day of Happily Ever After was also the day of the Wellington Marathon - so, unfortunately the road outside our house was closed until 1pm. Matt and I arrived a little bit late, but we were greeted very warmly by the maitre’d who swiftly showed us to our table.
Brunch is something that is new-ish at The Roxy - and boy, have we been missing out. THIS BRUNCH was INSANE. It’s served buffet style so you can eat to your hearts content! I need to tell you - it was seriously the best Brunch I’ve had in a really really long time and I’ve been dreaming of it ever since.
The food may look a little rough and ready in these photos, but let me assure you it was absolutely delicious. Matt went back for fourths. We also indulged in some excellent Bloody Mary’s. You can add your own condiments which makes things pretty fun. The condiments go from the regular (tabasco sauce) to the crazy (BACON!). Matt got a bit carried away so he had to re-do his Bloody Mary again. It was so much fun. We were even serenaded by beautiful guitar music - the guy is called Daniel White and he slayed it in a very peaceful way.
There was a little table of all the spices, sauces and bits and pieces you needed to make your Bloody Mary bloody amazing!
After we had stuffed ourselves silly, we went upstairs and into the main cinema lobby. The ceiling - which is painted with concept art from Weta Workshop close by - totally blew me away. Swimming around us were joyous little sprats (aka small children) all dressed up in costume for Finding Dory, complete with Life Saver Boats by Life Saving NZ and lots of funky costumes.
We entered the cinema and got another incredible surprise. We were greeted by cupcakes and a special sweet lemonade. Then there was the most crazy-cool High Tea I have ever seen. It was honestly like edible art. This is because of Ray - the CoCo cocktail specialist who has more than a few tricks up his sleeve.
Settling in, Matt and I got ready for show time. The film did not disappoint - safe to say, I cried, especially in the flash backs Dory has of his family. I know that’s so LAME but I can’t go past a great family-themed film.
By the end, we were starry-eyed and very relaxed and happy from the movie. Then it was back downstairs where we thanked the maitre'd again. The service at The Roxy was awesome, and every was just SO friendly. I saw this great girl called Erica who I met at TEDxWellington - and she and the other guys looked after us so well.
I cannot recommend this experience highly enough. I cannot believe it took me so long to get to The Roxy but I know I will be back soon. For only $35 a head, brunch is such a great idea and it will not disappoint. The Roxy don’t just treat a movie as a screening - they take you on a theatrical, multi-dimensional experience where you smell, taste, feel and hear all aspects of the cinema. What a splash!
Thank you so much Alice Sisley and the team at The Roxy for having us.
Surrealism at Te Papa is where it’s at this winter with these wonderful events…!