Hospitality industry set to keep visitors happy

New Plymouth's hospitality industry is gearing up to showcase the city to visitors this weekend.

Thousands of guests are expected to flood New Plymouth for two concerts in the Fleetwood Mac Unleashed Tour at the TSB Bowl of Brooklands tonight and tomorrow night.

Bars and restaurants are looking to turn it on for the visitors, with a view to entice them back.

Crowded House Bar and Cafe owner Doc van Praagh said they would be open at 8 each morning with a special brunch menu.

"We are pretty used to it with events like Americarna taking place and we expect this weekend to be as big, if not bigger," he said.

"We want to make the visitors think that Taranaki is a vibrant, exciting place to be and they will want to come back again," he said.

The bar has a special licence to stay open until 2am on Monday.

The Matinee Bar will rock to the sounds of eight local DJs from 9.30pm tonight until late.

Club 55 owner Stacey Lamb has DJ Mark J playing tonight while the club has a late licence until 2am on Monday, with DJ Tight.

"We're looking forward to welcoming all of the visitors into the province and showing them a good time," Mr Lamb said.

Bertie Burleigh, owner of Peggy Gordon's Celtic Bar, has a live band tonight and tomorrow night, with a late licence until 2am on Monday.

Heather Cardon, manager of the Waterfront Hotel, said they would be open for dinner after tomorrow night's show.

"We hope that there are lots of people that are going to want to eat after the concert," she said.

The hotel was fully booked for the weekend.

The bar at the Devon Hotel and Conference Centre will be open until late tomorrow night for those who want to enjoy a drink after the show.

The Copthorne Hotel Grand Central's restaurant will be open until late after tomorrow's show for those looking for a bite to eat, manager Adrian Walters said.

- © Fairfax NZ News