New cocktail bar for historic hotel
A new cocktail bar is breathing new life into a historic Blenheim building.
Located within Hotel d’urville, the Bamboo Tiger Cocktail and Jazz Bar is similar to the franchises in Auckland and Nelson, but the smallest and most intimate of all.
Hotel manager Michelle Bradley said the bar’s focus would be delivering a delicious product but also an experience through live music, atmosphere and cocktail making.
‘‘Ordering a cocktail is an experience, so you not only get a beautiful cocktail to drink but you’re watching someone prepare and put this thing together in front of you, so you’re entertained as well,’’ she said.
She said it was important to have the right staff for the job, and in time the bar will have some cocktails specifically named for the hotel.
Early feedback has shown her Marlburians were happy to see the historic hotel given a new lease of life, she said.
‘‘The main thing I’ve had from everybody, all ages, is that people are really happy to see the hotel looked after and people spending energy and time into bring the hotel back to its former glory,’’ Bradley said.
The hotel lease was signed over by Wayne Clark at the beginning of August, with Bradley stepping in to manage the hotel and bars just three weeks ago. After a successful summer welcoming the cocktail bar, they would aim to introduce a Tiki bar in February. The Bamboo Tiger Cocktail and Jazz Bar would aim to feature live, local music – preferably jazz – each weekend. Bradley said the decor, music and intimate atmosphere gave customers a big city feel.
‘‘The feedback I personally have had from people is that it’s kind of felt like it’s a metropolitan bar in Blenheim, it feels like it could be in Wellington or Auckland, and that was the feel when they walked in.’’
Although summer and the holiday season can be a stressful time to begin a new business, Bradley said it would give them a good idea of what Blenheim wanted from the bar.
‘‘We’ve opened at the worst time to be able to prepare but the best time for trade,’’ she said.
‘‘For us it’s about giving the customer a fabulous experience, providing good quality drinks and beautiful experience of watching the cocktail be made.
The cocktail and jazz bar would be open from Wednesday to Sunday nights.