Joining the hundreds of people who farewelled the Gardens
Tavern last night were (from left) Jack Smithers, Sam
Thomson, Liam Ander (partly obscured), Renata Davis, Sean
Larkham, John Taylor, James Mulvey, Trey Davis and Campbell
Makea and (front, from left) Bridget Dalzeill, Emma Bailley
and Sophie Patchett. Photo by Jane Dawber.
Those wanting a last drink at the Gardens Tavern today
will be disappointed - the pub's closed.
Owner Pete Innes-Jones confirmed yesterday the bar was
"categorically not going to be open" today.
That meant the North Dunedin bar closed its doors for
business last night at midnight. The decision was his and was
the common-sense one, Mr Innes-Jones said.
• Slideshow: Party over at the
Gardies
"We don't want to fuel idiocy ... and what we'd make [today]
we'd lose in stress and damage. It's just not worth it. This
weekend should be about the rugby."
Large crowds were expected at the popular student haunt
before it closed this weekend, following its sale to the
University of Otago.
The New Zealand v Wales rugby test match being played at
Carisbrook tonight is also expected to draw a big crowd to
North Dunedin.
In anticipation, Dunedin authorities put a liquor ban in
place, visited student flats and planned a large emergency
service presence in North Dunedin.
The pub, known as The Gardies, is in Castle St, where the
arrival of the Undie 500 sparked mass disorder in recent
years.
The university has not disclosed the purchase price or how it
will use the site, but has said it will not continue running
it as a bar.
Mr Innes-Jones said anyone who turned up to the pub would be
turned away by security guards. He denied rumours the
decision to close last night was made after reaching a
financial arrangement with Otago University.
When asked if it had approached Mr Innes-Jones about closing
the bar this weekend, an Otago University spokeswoman said
the university had no comment.
The university will take possession of the site on Friday.
Mr Innes-Jones said security guards would be on 24-hour duty
for the next week to protect the property from vandalism.
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