Silky Otter Cinemas: Against the odds

Lights, camera..... and learning.

Silky Otter Cinemas set out to redefine the movie experience—but their journey wasn’t without challenges. Watch and read their story below to see how they navigated uncertainty and emerged stronger.

A challenging start

Most businesses expect their biggest challenges to come further down the track, but for Silky Otter Cinemas, the toughest test arrived right after launching.

The independent cinema chain had just opened its first location in Orakei, Auckland, in 2019 when the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill.

Co-founder Neil Lambert recalls the difficulties of trying to expand under strict social distancing measures and lockdowns.

“For us, it was incredibly tough to build a circuit of cinemas during a global pandemic—we had many struggles that we came up against,” Neil says.

“Probably one of the most important ones was cash flow and getting finance to do what we needed to do.

“We had a vision and a direction and we didn’t want to stop, so we kept going as hard as we could, head down and bum up, and we got through.”

A premium movie experience

Silky Otter Cinemas delivers more than just movies. Guests can enjoy freshly prepared hot meals, decadent desserts, and a wide selection of drinks, all served directly to their seats.

Neil attributes much of their success to SilverChef, which provided funding for the hospitality equipment needed to support their full kitchen and bar service.

“Back in 2020 when the world shut down, so did the banks. They turned around and said they weren’t going to be backing hospitality any more.”

“The great thing about SilverChef was that SilverChef was hospitality and they understood hospitality, the pains and what we were going through at the time. They became vital in us being able to grow our business… and we couldn’t have done that part without them.”

Looking ahead

Silky Otter Cinemas has not only survived but expanded. The company now operates eight locations across New Zealand.

With these new additions, Neil expects visitor numbers to exceed one million annually.

By combining exceptional hospitality with a top-tier cinema experience, Silky Otter is bringing back the magic of the big screen for seasoned moviegoers while creating a fresh sense of nostalgia for a new generation.

Looking to grow your hospitality business?

SilverChef provides flexible funding solutions to help businesses like Silky Otter succeed. Learn more today.