Entertainment Quarter Fox Studios

The Entertainment Quarter is kinda like the news Star Wars movies: cool idea, but it ends up being kinda soulless for some reason nobody can really understand *cough Hayden Christensen cough*.
In the EQ’s case it is largely, I suspect, because it’s not on a train line and ain’t easy to get to by public transport. But hey, there’s a lot of fun stuff going down, from The Comedy Store to Friday Night Football to gigs at The Hordern and The Hi-​Fi to The Ashes to disco bowling at Strike to farmers markets to Cirque du Soleil to Hoyts movies to wow there really is a lot of stuff when you list it out.
It’s always a destination for me, though — as in, I go there to see something specific that I’ve bought tickets to, rather than just to hang out or see what’s happening.
I mean, I always enjoy it when I do, but. .. Hayden Christensen is just terrible though, isn’t he? Thanks, Canada.

Some good places for functions (recently hosted Cirque de Soleil), has a weekly market which was good when I went a few years ago. Some nice eateries, quick and good service in all places I’ve tried so far. A cinema and ten pin bowling males it a strong drawcard — it would have gotten an extra star if it had free parking.

«Tenants force malls to cut their rent as sales slump»
«Retail sales in worst showing since 1984»
These are the types of headlines out lately and when i visited the Entertainment Quarter recently it was glaringly obvious why retail is slumping.
When you drive into the empty car park there’s a sign showing free parking for 2 hours, so i drive in and park. Arriving after 6 having just finished work, there’s not much open besides a few restaurants which are totally empty. Shops are closed not that there are any shops here of any interest to most people.
Yes its after 6 and it shouldn’t be a surprise that shops are closed but for a small retail center like this its time to think outside the box and break the rules, whatever they are. Is it really that hard to take a prime spot like this and turn into a retail hot spot in Sydney?
How the businesses survive here is anyone’s guess.
The clincher is when you realize you walked into a ghost town and do a 180 back to your car, drive to the exit, insert your ticket into the machine and wham! $ 7
What? I could have sworn i saw free parking for 2 hours, go back to sign and looky looky there’s a one liner at the bottom — ‘After 6 night rate $ 7′ Guess i should have spent 1 min reading the rates list before taking my ticket like most people do.
It goes without saying that this is a blatant rip off and a classic con in the carpark business and i got caught a beauty so my hat off to the EQ.
it surprises me that parking is charged at $ 7 after 6 for a micro quarter that doesn’t have anything to offer after this time especially in the week. This is basically giving the finger to customers and hoping they don’t come back.
Mission accomplished guys.

I don’t know why everyone here is reminiscing about days-​gone-​by. Lets worry about what EQ is about today.
Sure the crowded streets and the exciting buzz may not exist these days, but it’s still a pretty cool place to come. You have the run of the place during the week!
Parking is $ 6 for the evening or there’s a tonne of Sydney Buses out the front.
Go along to «Deck on Bent» and get great, quick, low-​key, consistent service every time you go.
The movies are never packed. THIS IS A GOOD THING. What is wrong with you people? I love having a cinema to myself, being able to spread out with your partner or the date you’re trying to impress, not putting up with hundreds of others in the cinema coughing/​chewing/​iPhoning/​etc.
Sure La Première isn’t worth the dosh anymore. You get the über-​cool hipster types, or the Adidas-​wearing «wannabe chavs» ruining the experience. But there’s nothing wrong with the main Hoyts, they’re big cinemas in a cool looking building.

Here here what the hell happened. The Entertainment Quarter at Moore Park used to be the Fox Studios Backlot until it closed ages ago. All you can really do here is grab a bite to eat and see the movies. The Hoyts La Première experience here isn’t too bad, although you experience the same experience elsewhere; like Chatswood for instance. Took my mum to Cinema Paris here one time, and it was a nightmare getting there from Rozelle — parking and all. Just a place to eat and watch a movie; except the growers markets held on Wednesday mornings makes it worthwhile coming here, and yes once in a while too. There are occasional events for the children, otherwise this area feels like a dead end almost ghost town kind of vibe. Now as a result the annual Sydney Royal Easter Show is now based in Homebush. Le sigh, more travelling. The Entertainment Quarter does have some satisfying places to eat out at, and fairly good cinemas; yet it is still a bit overrated unfortunately.

Once upon a time this was a popular haven for the movie goers, the foodies and socialites, although as soon as they lost their way with ‘Fox Studio’s’ and the hustle of the school holiday tours stopped, they also lost the periodic visits from most of their regulars.
The buzz is missing, there’s no longer that energy and excitement that we’re so used too, the movie theatres hardly make numbers, and the restaurants are only ever busy on the weekend. The weekend days are filled with markets, which aren’t competitive in comparison to my other favourite markets, and don’t offer any big draw cards.
It’s turned into a bit of a ghost town, and that’s unfortunate, as there’s great memories of the yesteryear that I have for this place.

Something clearly went awry with the Entertainment Quarter. I’m not sure if it was a poor assessment of the public’s desire to hang out in Moore Park, the sustainability of the Australian film industry, or the public interest in a half-​baked theme park, but this place is largely deserted and bereft of quality shopping experiences. Between the AFTRS, the Hoyts, and a select handful of bars and eating options, the EQ manages to draw in a few smatterings of people here and there, but in general, this is a largely disappointing area.
When I was a kid, this was the Showgrounds and every year, we would trawl the show bag hall, watch the fireworks, and watch Batman slide down a wire to foil the Joker. I miss those days and I miss when this was the Showground. But all in all, it isn’t an unpleasant area: it’s clean and modern with some decent options for food, liquor, and movies. But it isn’t what it should be and I’m not sure how it can get turned around.

Strapped for an idea to take that special someone out on their birthday? Anniversary date? First date? Why not head over to the Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park and spend a night with La Première tickets to the next big film? For $ 70 a ticket, they have those fantastic double seat lounges for you to cuddle up next to each other and enjoy a corny romance film or next squeamish horror. While watching you can enjoy their gourmet menu and wine list with an in-​cinema personal waiter. If you don’t want to spend the extra dollars, you’ll still get complimentary popcorn and drink with your tickets.
Single tickets are also available, but you’ll probably enjoy yourself more at one of their many warehouse sales going on through the month. Sass and Bide warehouse sales are usually on throughout the year, and at 50−70% off RRP, you’d be silly to not drop by. (See:
for more info on the sale).

The Entertainment Quarter situated at fox Studios off Moore Road won’t keep you guessing what its purpose is… to entertain… with a variety of restaurants, shops, two movie houses, a comedy club and markets, EQ does have a lot to offer — the only thing that’s missing is a vibe. Fox Studios used to be buzzing when it first opened — there was a hub of energy and excitement with Channel V hosting music programs, there were movie premiers and celebrity spottings… now it’s a bit of a ghost town… with very few people making their way into the enetertainment hub… I still think it has a lot to offer — the cinemas are great to grab a movie and you can always get a game of Laser Squirmish or Ten Pin Bowling if you’re looking for a fun activity… it’s a pity EQ doesn’t have the magic it once did, but the benefit to you is you don’t have to fight the crowds. All the restaurants are average — so eat before you head down there… Also note — 2 hours free parking and $ 6 after hours parking…

‘The Entertainment Quarter’ has always struck me as a try-​hard kinda name. It’s as contrived and manmade as the Bent Street that meanders through the centre. And visits here seem to polarise between being absolutely ramed with people (if anything is happening at the neighbouring Hordern Pavilion or SGC) or near deserted — save some hopped up Bent Street kids and their (stage) parents. Like Julia, I couldn’t see the point in visiting.
Then I had to go a bit for work and it started to make sense. The parking lot is huge and the 2 hours free (or free after 6pm) helps to make the trek worthwhile. There are growers markets which are always teeming with people, and on other days there are mums and bubs. This place is perfect for parents — the wide boulevards, playground and absence of cars make it a super safe and easy spot to congregate. I’m actually surprised there aren’t more coffee shops to cater for the stroller brigade (I don’t count Gloria Jeans).
So while it’s still totally contrived, it’s a good place for families to hang out in central Sydney — and that’s got to be a bonus.

Home to 2 cinemas, Sydney’s premier comedy club, a large pub, a few restaurants, a handful of shops and the Hordern Pavilion (although not sure if that’s technically part of it), the Entertainment Quarter should be buzzing. Only problem is, it’s totally lacking in any sort of character! It’s not exactly a transport hub either — there may be buses going down Anzac Parade, but there’s nothing directly to it — so no one will end up there accidentally. What it does have is good, apart from the shops of which there are only a few and are pretty average. The Comedy Store is definitely worth a trip, and the Hordern Pavilion has a lot of big gigs, so a trip to the Fox and Lion before and after is usually in order, but I wouldn’t be planning a night out there otherwise.

Hmmmmmm… Don’t really get this place. Never did. It was all the rage (momentarily) when it first opened a while back, but I never really found my groove at the EQ. A recent revisit (purely because my besty was working at Fox Studios), only reaffirmed my initial conclusion — the place ain’t got no soul. It all kinda feels a little, I dunno, superficial somehow… like it’s just there — serving no real purpose — apart from the enormous car park that accommodates no less than 2000 vehicles. In fact the carpark might just be the best thing about this place. First 2 hours free. You’d be hard pressed to occupy yourself for that long anyway… unless you hit the Cinema Paris — one cultural plus. Or you join the hordes of kids in the giant playground. Actually, swings count as a plus too. So there’s two points. The website says «There is quite literally something for everyone at EQ,» but I challenge that claim. No atmos. No pulse. And crawling with kids. There’s a neon bowling bar where you can sip as you strike if that’s you thing. And there are a bunch of restaurants to choose from, but when I met my mate there we couldn’t settle on one because each joint was as unappealing as the next. The Barvarian Beer Café advertised a «Soccer Club Salad» on its specials list. What the? … so we ended up at the Fox and Lion which was about as animated as a wet doormat. I had the Caesar salad which wasn’t half bad, and my mate had the salt and pepper squid served with a mountain of fries and drowning in oil. She seriously had to ‘ring’ the oil from each piece of squid with napkins. Oh yeah, just don’t park there if you’re heading to a concert at the Hordern. I took about 2 hours to get outa there post Slash. He was worth it though.