Goodbye Blue Monday

Dec/Jan 10

A Poplar Lanes newcomer proves very relaxing for Jamie Hanton.

Chillaxing 

We don't get too many bars bearing literary references in Christchurch, which is a shame, considering the unique proposition that is Goodbye Blue Monday. For the curious, the origin of the name is a Kurt Vonnegut novel. The careful choice of name speaks volumes of the thought and passion that has gone into the bar.

We arrived about nine o'clock on a Saturday night to a still-calm scene. Goodbye Blue Monday is divided into an indoor area and a large outdoor courtyard, which was once the garden of the Ya-Ya Teahouse and is fenced off from the rest of Poplar Lanes. A few groups were milling around the couches outside, drawn to the gas braziers and open fires in barrels.  

Our large posse grabbed a couple of comfy-kitsch second-hand couches that could have been rescued from a great-aunt. Similar great-aunts would advise taking an extra layer for a night at Goodbye Blue Monday, because most of the seating is outside and, while the outdoor heating is efficient, she wouldn't want you catching a chill.   

Advice, although of a much less mollycoddling manner, is readily dished by the staff. I was leaning towards a wine of some kind and the very helpful Tim suggested a glass of the Hawke's Bay Estate Cabernet Merlot ($9), which was, as I hoped, full-bodied and intense.

 Overall, the wine list is tight and in some varieties there is little from which to choose. That said, the quality of the wines is consistently high, which means that the choice, while limited, is generally good. More impressive are the origins of the wines and the rest of the beverages available. It's easy to have a night at Goodbye Blue Monday where everything that touches your lips has come from Aotearoa and, more so, independent producers.

Taking advantage of this, the others went for pints of organic Bodgie Beer ($8), a beer with a passionate following and available exclusively from this locale. The pilsner is poured from Brunel-looking taps on the bar, as if sourced from a secret underground well of goodness. The other members of the party were on the slightly more expensive dinner bottles of Three Boys wheat beer.  

Thirsts quenched, we sat and relaxed. The seating configuration allows groups to stick to themselves or mingle with others, creating an atmosphere that is more akin to a house party. By 10pm, the outside seating was filled, conversation was buzzing all around and the foosball table was seeing near-constant action. 

There was consistent glass clearing, an important job that often goes overlooked, and the service at the bar was always prompt and friendly. On my second trip up, I was practically ecstatic to spy bottles of Epic ($8), a pale ale said to contain 3000 per cent more hops than your average drop. Whether the claim is true or not, the ale is still remarkably punchy and clean in the aftertaste. A friend chose the Weka Native Lager ($8) from the Moa Brewery in Marlborough, a slightly heavier beer that still managed to refresh.  

The toilets are how unisex facilities everywhere should be. Through the glass door, complete with stunning Tony de Latour lightning bolt surround, are five separate stalls, which are light, bright and clean. They contrast with the darkness of the bar, which has the atmosphere of a speakeasy, with wooden floors and saloon-style seating, as well as a raised and carpeted stage in the corner.  

At midnight, Christchurch indie group Tiger Tones took the stage, and the mellow dancing crowd was quietly enthusiastic. Life continued to hum along as it had outside and the gig did not overwhelm the entire venue.  

Live music is a regular occurrence at Goodbye Blue Monday, with performances Thursday to Saturday every week. Throughout the week, the bar regularly supports other arts and cultural projects, playing host to art and fashion events, theological discussions, and regular games nights. 

Our posse had a great time flitting between the bar, the dance floor and the areas outside in what is perhaps the most nonchalant, stress-free venue in Christchurch. Far from the maddening crowds, Goodbye Blue Monday provides a tailored hospitality experience in a bar that's supremely comfortable with itself and its patrons.     

Where: 138 Lichfield St, entry off Poplar Lane.

Hours: 5pm-3am Monday to Thursday, 3pm-3am Friday and Saturday.

Wine: A smallish selection, but strong nonetheless.

Prices: Beer and wine hover around the $8 mark.

Service: Charming.

Ambience: Dark and seductive in; rough and ready out. 

Amenities: Self-contained, spacious and bright.