Events and hospo entrepreneur Quentin Nolan is opening Wharf Bar, in the Steamer Wharf building, next week.
Located in the same upper floor space occupied by SkyCity Wharf Casino until 2018, it’ll have seating for 280 patrons.
Expected to open next Thursday — subject to final signoff by council — it’s been designed to attract Kiwi patrons in response to what Nolan calls a "subtle shift in Queenstown’s CBD dynamics".
Nolan, who’s best known for the annual Snow Machine festival, says recent research commissioned by Queenstown’s council found that while domestic visitor numbers remain high, their proportional share of spending in the town centre has plateaued.
He puts that down to a lack of venues catering for domestic visitors and locals in a way that "blends lifestyle, music and community".
"We wanted to create a venue where Kiwis feel just as excited as tourists — a place to enjoy the lake views and a relaxed daytime atmosphere, then return in the evening for music, cocktails, and the kind of energy you only find in a vibrant city centre."
He’s backing that up with a summertime music programme that draws on his networks in the live music scene.
Featuring international touring acts and emerging local talent, it’ll aim to "energise the CBD night-time economy".
The bar’s design has been inspired by lakefront and pavilion-style venues in the United States and Australia, he says.
It’ll be family-friendly in the daytime, then become a night-time social hub offering cocktails, pizzas, small plates and "curated experiences".
