FINALLY the rumours will come true, when Ancestral, a new 1930s Shanghai-style bar, opens on Courtenay Place.
Thick blue curtains will replace the old newspaper now covering the windows of the former United Video shop at 31-35 Courtenay Place, leading you into Wellington’s latest addition to the bar/restaurant scene.
General manager Rob Scott, and former Chow Operations Manager and Matterhorn maître d’, describes his vision for the Cantonese and Sichuan style flavour bar/restaurant as 40 dozen wine glasses arrive.
“You could put them there,’ he says pointing to new dark wood stained manicured seats which will soon sit in the “opulent and decadent Shanghai timeless themed bar”.
“Ancestral means ‘old place’. It is something built to last,” Scott says. “It’s a refuge for Courtenay Place. It’s something a little bit different.”
Ancestral is 550 square metres with a capacity of 350 people, owned by Peter Kwok and designed by architect Allistar Cox, who has already designed The Matterhorn, Mojo, and Kaffee Eis amongst others.
It won’t be one of those in your face Courtenay Place bars with al fresco tables and drunken teenagers smoking by the front door. A thick blue curtain will adorn the front windows leading you into restaurant on one side and the bar on the other.
“It’s understated branding, you can’t see in or what is happening. I guess that’s a Wellington thing,” Scott says. “We have lush dark wood stain and a Japanese tea garden in the courtyard.”
Without sounding arrogant, Scott says the bar is trying to attract a discerning customer.
“We’re clearly not going for 18-year-olds or large groups of male customers who want to leer at women. We want to be inclusive – not exclusive and diverse. Each area is doing something different. The outdoor courtyard is part of our core concept – good drinks, food and good service.”
Classic drinks, as well as a wide list of sake and whisky, will be available but more casual drinks like mojitos will take precedence in the more casual courtyard bar.
“The courtyard’s going to be lush. There will be outdoor heaters, a fireplace, heated seats and a Yakitori grill. It will be warm, sheltered and you won’t feel like you are in Courtenay Place.”
Live bands will play monthly at first and DJs will deck out the courtyard.
Scott and Kwok have a strong team behind them too with names popping up from some of the best bars and restaurants around town and beyond – Motel bar consultant Ben Simpson known for his ‘Man O’War Gunpowder Rum’, Singapore Marriott Hotel wine consultant Steven Wong and Matterhorn maître d’ Tony Castro amongst others. Free range, organic produce and no MSG will be used, he says.
“It’s two different styles of Chinese cooking into a modern dining context.”
The kitchen will be open till midnight, with the bar closing at 3am on weekends and on Mondays.