Housed in the former Dog With Two Tails premises in Moray Pl, Rewind had its unofficial opening night last Thursday to tease the public with what is to come.
Dog With Two Tails shut in March because of business difficulties and persistent noise complaints.
Rewind owner Aaron Davies, who had regularly performed comedy at Dog With Two Tails, was determined to forge a new identity despite the bar’s links to the past.
"I think people are going to be sad that Dog With Two Tails is gone. I think that’s a good thing, but I want to create a joy that this is here," Mr Davies said.
"I had a fondness for the place and I know that a lot of other people did.
"A lot of people used the past tense for their fondness, and I thought maybe there’s something there."
Mr Davies said nostalgia heavily inspired the new venue, which took its inspiration from the 1980s and ’90s.
Music, pop culture and references from those periods were all worked into the menu, along with a splash of Kiwiana goodness.
Included were a Star Wars-themed "blue milk" cocktail, an "L&P mule" and even a "Dunedin traffic light", which contained an Easter egg patrons would have to discover for themselves.
Some of the staff members were comedians and former Dog With Two Tails regulars themselves, which Mr Davies hoped would make for some good wise-cracking bartenders.
Table bases, couches and armchairs, originally from Dog With Two Tails, had been rescued and repurposed.
Mr Davies described the venue’s target demographic as "post-freshers, pre-dead", and as offering music you could still have a conversation over.
On the topic of noise complaints, which infamously plagued Dog With Two Tails, he said great progress had been made.
"I do believe people need to recognise where they live. We are in the central area of Dunedin.
"Nobody wants to be disturbed where they live. I’m hopeful that in one respect we will hopefully bring back live music in the future and it’s just a case of communicating."
The venue would not offer live performances for a few months, so it could showcase its products and atmosphere first.
The venue plans to officially open to the public on July 11.
tim.scott@odt.co.nz , PIJF cadet reporter
