The Former Home of Golden Dawn Is Being Transformed into a Garden Bar

The new space will reportedly open next month.
Stephen Heard
June 29, 2018

At the end of March, seven-year-long pop-up bar Golden Dawn closed its nondescript door for good, crushing the hearts of its dedicated community of freaks and geeks. Those still sponging tears over the loss of the Tavern of Power will be happy to know that it's living on in the form of a feature-length concert movie. You could also try recreating the bar's incredible Welsh rarebit at home.

Now, after much speculation about the future of the charming space at 139a Ponsonby Road — including rumours around the development of council apartments and one far-out whisper that it was being transformed into a Finnish day spa — information has emerged about the new occupants.

The good news is that it will continue as a watering hole, or more specifically, a "Hopped Beer & Peculiar Garden Bar."

Reportedly opening next month, Hoppers Garden Bar is listed under the ownership of Jessica and Bronwyn Payne — the former managing directors of Bay of Plenty's The Pizza Library Co.

Hoppers is being floated on paper as a space for "the adventurous," with the motto "Avoid the ordinary, seek the marvellous." It will feature "18 hopped beer taps, rich wines, botanical cocktails, gins and sharing plates from around the world."

A peek through the new pearly gates at the Richmond Road entrance of the Lot 3 laneway reveals a large canopy covering the outdoor area, while the bar has been shifted to the far end of the courtyard with shiny gold beer taps and an overhanging antler chandelier. There has also been word of "unusual rusty trinkets," and copious amounts of flora and fauna, though you'll have to wait until next month to see how it all unfolds.

For more information about Hoppers Garden Bar, visit the company's website or Facebook page.

Image: Francis Carter, Golden Dawn: Tavern of Power.

Published on June 29, 2018 by Stephen Heard
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