Vespa fires up again

Hamilton bar mogul John Lawrenson is relaunching the Vespa restaurant in the south end of Victoria St.

Under previous ownership Vespa's doors have been shut for months, but Mr Lawrenson – who holds major shareholdings in five central city bars and restaurants – has big plans for the establishment.

"There is a market for a good Italian restaurant at that end of town," he said. "The important thing is getting the front of house staff right."

Mr Lawrenson has appointed former OneZB proprietor Julia Cowan as manager and Michael Hutema, formerly of Le Dome and The Fireplace (Whitianga), as head chef.

"We have decided that we can create a real little bloc in this part of Victoria St."

Mr Lawrenson said his Furnace restaurant was operating at capacity almost every night. Last Monday he served 114 there and turned dozens others away.

Meanwhile, Mr Lawrenson hit back at Waikato Times editorial criticism of his Tui promotion across the road at Bar 101, under which up to 100 patrons have the chance to gain a free T-shirt once they purchase six handles of Tui.

Mr Lawrenson said there was no "drinking race" involved, merely 100 cards available for stamping, many of which have still to be uplifted.

The offer was part of a national Tui promotion to build brand affiliation, except Mr Lawrenson has cut it back to six handles rather than seven. Only 20 people have collected T-shirts so far.

Beer was not a large part of student drinking these days, he said, and nobody had come in and had a race to drink six handles.

Selling beer for $4 a handle in controlled licensed premises was better than students drinking bottles at $1 each elsewhere.

Waikato Times acting editor Roy Pilott said the bar's facebook site had said all people had to do was be "one of the first 100 people to drink six handles ... ".

He said Mr Lawrenson's explanation that the only "race" was to be one of the first to apply for one of 100 cards put the promotion in a different light.

- © Fairfax NZ News