Sat 27 Dec 2014 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Tamati Coffey and Tim Smith are opening a bar called Ponsonby Rd in a Rotorua nightlife hub. The couple have told the Rotorua Daily Post they will both work behind the bar at the new venue. It will be situated in Eat Streat, a recently upgraded site which includes restaurants, bars, cafes and an al fresco dining area which can host concerts. Coffey has been hinting about the new venture on Twitter Coffey and Smith have been living in Rotorua since Coffey quit television and made a bid for Parliament. He was unable to claim the Rotorua seat for Labour, and the party’s poor result meant he missed out on a spot via the list. The pair say they're committed to living and working in Rotorua, and Coffey tells the Rotorua Daily Post that as the name suggests, Ponsonby Rd will “bring some Auckland style to Rotorua”. It will have a Shanghai Lil’s style theme, with high tea during the day and champagne and cocktails plus live jazz at night. Smith and Coffey hope to have the bar open by early March. They are also busy organising a Rotorua float in the Auckland Pride Parade.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 27th December 2014 - 9:35am