Old English Pub and other Christchurch, New Zealand Nightlife Tips

Nightlife Spot: Bard on Avon

The Bard is an old English style pub serving a wide range of ales, stouts and beers with a few meal options including bangers & mash. There are plenty of tap beers including my poison - Monteiths Original. It is very popular with locals and visitors.

Live music is on Wednesday through Sunday and the big screen TV is always going - especially if there is an important Football (soccer) game on. Rugby & League also get a showing as does Cricket.

Sunday night is quiz night with anyone welcome to create a team. A few odds & sods from Base backpackers etc form teams for the night in an attempt at a bit of fun and compete against local brainiacs.

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Theme: Adult Spot
Dress Code: There is no specified dress code rule here so you can come very relaxed and casual. It's jeans & a tee shirt for me on Fridays which is my normal after work drink night.

Nightlife Spot: The Court Theatre

The Court Theatre has been putting on quality productions for many many years and it should rank highly on your list of things to do when the sun goes down. The theatre is broken into two stages with Court two very small and intimate (be aware of this as you may feel a little uncomfortable with the actors right in your face - if this is your thing then court two is just the best!!).

Details of what is on the the Court can be found within most Christchurch newspapers and tourist magazines. For full details see the Court Theatre Website where what's on now and in the future can be found.

Cost varies depending on what you go and see. Theatre Sports events are as low as $6.50 to see and major productions priced at around $36.

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Theme: Theater
Dress Code: Smart casual is as far as you need to go.
Phone: (03) 963 0870
Address: 20 Worcester Street, Christchurch
Directions: It is situated within the historic Arts Centre of Christchurch fronting Worcester Boulevard.

Nightlife Spot: Dux de Lux

Dux de Lux is Latin for Masters of the Finest and they keep up their name especially with their beer. The Dux is good for both a bite to eat and place to meet and has been around since 1978. The main nights here are Friday and Saturday with a live band normally playing in the Tavern Bar. The sort of music is generally alternative rock so a good fit for the crowd that tends to gather here. There is lots of outside seating in two separate areas with people in suits also making an appearance on most Friday nights.

A good selection of locally produced beer including Dux's great Nor' Wester beer plus several others including the Hereford Bitter and Blue Duck. I have sampled most of the brews and am more than happy with the product!! There are three separate bars catering to different crowds so see which one fits you the best!

There is also a Dux de Lux in Queenstown though I have not been there as yet.

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Theme: Adult Spot
Dress Code: This is a fairly casual place with a good standard of dress expected in the de Lux Lounge but a lesser standard in the Brew Bar and Tavern.
Address: Worchester Blv
Directions: Cnr Hereford and Montreal Street Christchurch If your in the middle of the city...find Hereford Street, cross the Avon, and it's on the corner after you've passed the Police Station (central) and the

Nightlife Spot: Base

Located in Struthers Lane (in the back streets off Lichfield & Manchester), Base is a very good spot to do some clubbing. Open until the wee hours you can normally expect a big night out at Base. At the upcoming Unity night Base will be the HQ for Hard Dance which should give you an idea of what to expect here.

Base is open from 10pm to 7am

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Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: Casual

Nightlife Spot: Ministry

Ministry, located in Lichfield St, has been at the forefront of the nightclub scene for quite some time. With a mix of local and internal DJ acts the place normally goes off most weekends. It is quite a large place once you are inside and after around 1pm the place is jam packed with party people - generally a bit on the young side depending on the music being played.

Most of the time there is no cover charge however if there is an international act expect to pay up to $15 to get in the door. As is normal with nightclubs, buying drinks is more expensive than your local boozer so be prepared to pay a little more. It's open from 10pm to 6am.

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Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: Casual

Nightlife Spot: North of the Square on Colombo St

North of the Square and over the River is a small area with many restaurants and cafes. There is a good assortment of styles, flavours and ethnicities so should be somewhere that you like to stop and eat.

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: Mostly casual.
Address: Colombo St
Directions: North of Kilmore St.

Nightlife Spot: Eye Spy

Located on Lichfield St near the corner of Colombo, Eye Spy is one of the better places to hang out if you are into the Dance House scene. With live DJs mixing until late Eye Spy is a good spot for a big night on the dance floor. Drinks are priced a fraction high but this is most likely to keep the customers at the level that Eye Spy is after.

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Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: This is more of a dressy night-club and the bouncers will not let you in if you dress down too much or are intoxicated.

Nightlife Spot: Civic

The Civic is located in the heart of Christchurch, incorporating Zinc bar, the Green Chamber (small function room) and The Civic Chamber. The front bar, Zinc, holds 200 people, and can be completely sealed or opened into the Civic Chamber through double doors. The Green Chamber on the opposite side of the building holds 100. The main room holds up to 1000, which is the maximum capacity of the entire venue. This location are actually the old Council Civic chambers. The scene here is mainly dance with its many varieties - I tend to go when it's D&B night. Lots of fun.

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Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: Casual
Address: Lichfield St

Nightlife Spot: Liquidity

Located on the Strip on Oxford Tce, Liqudity is an okay place to go for a big night out. Liquidity is a restaurant by day and house club by night. It has a good atmosphere and is well designed including the option of a quiet intimate drink in the booths. During the day the restaurant serves full meals, and at night a Tapas menu is available.

Resident DJ Andy Pulzar also runs a local radio station, Pulzar FM, and he plays mainly House. He is a well regarded DJ so shouldn't disappoint.

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Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: Smart Casual
Website: http://www.liquiditybar.com/