Courtenay Place hospitality owners want to revitalise and shift the public’s perception of Courtenay Place, to attract more people to the area at other times of the day, saying the future of the precinct is at risk.

Spokesperson for Courtenay Precinct, Jeremy Smith, says ‘failure is not an option’ for the restaurants and bars along what was once a humming entertainment strip.

A range of issues, including the economic downturn and a general lack of underinvestment in the street has resulted in hospitality businesses suffering.

Smith is a director of Trinity Group, which includes the Cambridge Hotel, Lulu and El Horno.

He says restaurants, bars and cafes in and around Courtenay Place are struggling. 

“Our businesses are depending on a good Saturday, and even a good Saturday is not as good as it used to be.”

“We’re down to one and a half nights of good trade a week to make ends meet, and it’s not sustainable.”

Their strategy is to change the way the public thinks about the Courtenay Place precinct.

“For Courtenay Place to be a good night time economic performer people can’t just be coming out at eleven o’clock at night. They’ve got to be there for lunch trade, the early evening dining, attend a show, the post-show, the cocktail, the late dinner, and then the younger market coming out to dance and enjoy the live music.”

Together with other hospitality operators and building owners the group is organising a rolling programme of events to give people reasons to come to Courtenay Place and to enjoy the entertainment.

The programme for the next few months features buskers, bands and street performers, as well as street ‘activations’ that leverage off other big events going on in Wellington, such as All Blacks games, Beervana and WOW.

The precinct also plans an ‘Eat Street’ food and cocktail festival, aligned with the Matariki harvest festival at the end of June.  The restaurants and bars will offer value-for-money culturally-inspired dishes.

Revitalising the strip requires collaboration and a multi-pronged approach, Smith says.  As well as entertainment and improving the area with better cleaning, lighting and investment in the buildings, the group will ask police for help to improve safety along Courtenay Place.

Smith says the hospitality industry is hoping Wellingtonians will get in behind the programme of events.

“The more support we can get the better. Come out, socialise and enjoy even if you just have a cup of tea or an ice cream.  Come out, bring your energy and support be part of our city’s revitalisation.

“Courtenay Place plays an important part in the Wellington we love. If we don’t show our support our city, let’s not be surprised if one day if you’ve got an apartment or house that no one wants to buy.”

For Smith, the mission is personal. 

“I love this city and I owe it to myself and our businesses to try and revitalise Courtenay place and our city, before I pack up and look for greener pastures in in Auckland or Christchurch.  Failure is not an option.”