Parties behind Queenstown Bay restaurant The Bathhouse are close to issuing an injunction against an Australian company preparing to open a spa with the exact same name.
The Bathhouse Group has been advertising the opening of The Bathhouse Queenstown in Brecon St’s Upper Village complex, above the CBD, next month.
Billed as "New Zealand’s most luxurious wellness experience", it is inspired by high-end European bathhouses and includes hot and cold pools, saunas, a steam room, and a refreshment and tea lounge.
Allied Media understands The Bathhouse restaurant owners engaged a lawyer a few months ago and are close to issuing an injunction to get the Australian company, which opened its first spa in Brisbane, to change the name of its Queenstown bathhouse.
It is thought the company — which has created the website thebathhousequeenstown.com and is extensively promoting its venture via Facebook — has refused to engage with the restaurant’s owners.
The Bathhouse restaurant building started life as a bathhouse in 1911 to commemorate King George V’s coronation and later served as the local rowing club’s boat shed before falling into disrepair.
Following its original restoration, it opened as a restaurant in 1997.
Then, after another full refurbishment to bring it back to its former glory, it reopened under its current owners, who include celebrity chef Ben Bayly, in 2022.
A spokesperson for The Bathhouse Group had not responded to inquiries by deadline.
