Bar brings new life to Chch CBD

Last updated 05:00 17/08/2012

Daniel Tobin

The Press had a look inside the new central city bar, Cassels & Sons Brewery bar, which is opening tonight.

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Christchurch is finally moving away from container bars, but the latest offering may not be permanent.

The Cassels & Sons Brewery bar, housed in a historic Madras St building, will open tonight.

However, the site is earmarked for Christchurch's new stadium under the central-city plan.

Co-owner Zak Cassels said he was still operating day to day rather than planning longer term. He was opposed to the potential demolition of the 1908 building to make way for a stadium.

"When you have got a couple of heritage buildings that are full of good tenants and things that work and things the city needs, you probably should not really plan to destroy that," he said.

"Maybe you should change those plans to work around that."

The heritage building was brought up to code before the 2011 earthquakes.

Cassels had "not skimped" on the outfitting of the ground-floor bar and pizzeria, which is decorated in an art deco style.

He hopes to open a first-floor cocktail bar, music venue and beer garden before Christmas.

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