Bay Harbour: December 12, 2018

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PAGE 6 Wednesday December 12 2018 BAY HARBOUR Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi News Lyttelton’s British Hotel: Bikies, The bar that occupied the basement in the old British Hotel building has lost its liquor licence and closed. Julia Evans looks back on the colourful history of the iconic Lyttelton landmark FOR THE last 71 years, the British Hotel has been a watering hole for sailors, Lyttelton locals, cross-dressers, punk rockers, Epitaph Riders motorcycle gang members and even Iggy Pop. But, while the bar in the hotel on the corner of Norwich Quay and Oxford St – most recently known as the Hell Fire Club – has closed its doors for now, it is remembered for its history. The British Hotel first opened in 1874, and was named after its predominantly United Kingdombased clientele. It reopened in 1947 after a fire and, ever since, the hotel has been home to a number of infamous bars – most notably The Dive. Other incarnations have included El Santo Porteno before the quakes, the Back Bar and the British Basement. HISTORY: The British Hotel has had a long and colourful history since it opened in 1947 on the corner of Lyttelton’s Norwich Quay and Oxford St. Former sailor Jack Mahoney lived and drank at the hotel every day for 17 years from 1960 when he wasn’t at sea. “The best part was the great people who lived there. There aren’t many of them left, but they were good people.” But there was a flip side, in which the bar earned a notorious reputation for fights. “There were quite a few fights, but no one really got hurt. A punch on the chin never hurt anyone.” He said boxers like Joesph Parker would not have held their own at the British. “Someone was saying to me the other day after the world title fight, I’ve seen a better fight in the British and they’re not wrong.” The bar was notorious for after hours parties with black out curtains pulled so the police couldn’t see what was going on inside. “On Sundays, when the ferry was in, all the boys would come up from the ferry and start drinking, which was a big no, no on Sundays, but we covered for them,” Mr Mahoney said. “I was playing pool and the next thing I get a tap on the shoulder by the senior sergeant. I told him they were my guests . . . and gave him phoney names.” Mr Mahoney said the next minute the police were back and asking for the names – which he couldn’t remember. “But he left it. They knew it was better off them drinking there than on the streets.” Canada native Guy Daigneault owned the hotel from 1961-1974, he opened the Back Bar in 1967, when 6pm drinking restrictions were lifted. “The place was so well-known around the world. I was in Montreal once and someone said there’s Guy over there from the British. I couldn’t believe it.” COMING EVENTS Wednesday OPEN MIC WITH LYN (formerly Janes Wine Bar) Thursday 7PM KARAOKE TALENT QUEST HEAT FIVE THIS THURSDAY Friday 7.30PM KELVINATOR Saturday THE PISTONS Sunday ARVO JASON & SHARKEY Settlers Bar is striving to become, with your help, the next entertainment hub of Christchurch, focussing on Open Mic Nights, Jam Sessions, Live Music catering for most ages, Karaoke, and other entertainment most night. As we are new, we are looking for a pool team, social club etc. Also having gaming machines and are community minded, we would like to hear from clubs locally, who we may be able to offer assistance to, or would like to run Raffles or Fundraisers. CASH PRIZES! KARAOKE TALENT QUEST HEAT FIVE THIS THURSDAY Enter at bar or message Sharkey www.facebook.com/ Settlers-Cafe-Bar-Restaurant POOL COMPETITION EVERY SUNDAY FROM 2PM NEW GAMING MACHINE LOUNGE bay harbour |Cafe | Bar | Restaurant 1060 Ferry Rd, Ferrymead | p. 03 376 4448 | e. settlersbarcafe@outlook.co.nz FlY awaY with Singapore airlineS win a Singapore getawaY For two FlYing preMiUM eConoMY ClaSS inClUDeS aCCoMMoDation worth $7000 One lucky winner will be winging their way to Singapore with a friend courtesy of Singapore Airlines and Star Media. As well as enjoying Premium Economy Class, the winners will enjoy 3 nights’ accommodation with breakfast. A great chance to explore and see the exotic sights this city has to offer. It’s easy to enter, just visit www.starmedia.kiwi/chca350 and enter your details with the unique code below to be in to win. Kk7358v2 Terms and conditions apply, please see website for details. All entries must be in by Sunday 16th December. Winners to be announced in The Star and online on the 20th of December.
Wednesday December 12 2018 Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi BAY HARBOUR PAGE 7 Local News Now Fire rages, homes at risk booze, brawls . . . and Iggy Pop But Mr Daigneault said he had “to sleep with one eye open” as the place was renowned for fighting. To this day, blood remains on the roof from a knife fight between Russian seamen. “Most of the violence was locals, not even the seamen like everyone thought,” he said. Mr Daigneault said some of the Rebecca Lovell-Smith best days of his life were spent there. “I chose to raise my four kids there. But it was hard work, I devoted my life to that pub . . . I spent a lot of money doing it up.” The lease was taken over by late Lyttelton legends, Hilary and Jack McKenna, throughout the 1970s and 80s. Mr Mahoney said the McKennas and Mr Daigneault took him in and treated him like family. During their stint, the hotel became home to the first gay bar in the city. The British was divided into three separate bars. The Back Bar COLOURFUL: Everyone from Lyttelton locals to seamen and motor-cycle gang members have visited the British Hotel. – the gay bar out the back, The Dive – which was down in the basement and upstairs a bar for Lyttelton locals. The hotel made its mark throughout the 80s by hosting early gigs of The Androidss and Louie and the Hotsticks. Famously, United States punk icon Iggy Pop watched The Androidss play there in 1979. Their set included a cover of Iggy Pop’s The Passenger and he shared a whisky with them at the bar afterwards. “They’re tough as bitches, but they’re beautiful,” Iggy Pop was quoted by The Press. In the same decade, it was often filled with members of the Epitaph Riders motor-cycle gang. The gang was formed in Christchurch in 1969 and was involved in the country’s first gang war with the Devils Henchmen in 1974. But the building was closed after the February 22, 2011, earthquake, before it was saved from the bulldozer in 2015 by Rebecca Lovell-Smith and her husband, Christian Carruthers. Almost daily, former patrons stopped by the hotel to tell tales of its history. Ms Lovell-Smith said it was moments like that which made the building’s ongoing restoration worth while. “I get a lot of people who come out just to talk to you about their experiences. I had a sailor or a fisherman just yesterday tell me stories about how he used to stay there when he was in port. He said he remembers the publican falling down the stairs,” she said. And she promises pints will be pulled in the basement again. “We just need to do a bit more work. But even next year something will be there,” she said. “We want to honour all the different stages of the bar from way back, to more recently. It’s a good place that has good bands.” •HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you have any memories of the British Hotel? Share them with julia.evans@starmedia. kiwi PASSENGER: Godfather of punk Iggy Pop watched The Androidss play at the British in 1979. Quail Island Adventures Get the kids into nature and head to Quail Island! A great day trip to a real island with a fascinating history, in the heart of Lyttelton Harbour. Just a 15 minute ferry ride from Lyttelton. Book the DOC hut to stay overnight (via DOC website). SCHEDULE FREQUENCY DEPART LYTTELTON DEPART QUAIL ISLAND Oct & Nov Daily 10.20am 3.30pm Dec – Mar Daily 10.20am, 12.20pm 12.30pm, 3.30pm Apr – Sep Weekends only 10.20am 3.30pm blackcat.co.nz book 0800 436 574 online FARE CRUISES LYTTELTON & AKAROA ‘Under 5’s free on all trips, all year! Adult $30 Child $15 20% OFF ComplimEntary gift wrapping Entries close Saturday 30th September STOREWIDE thursday 13 th decemBer Excludes prescription items and already reduced items Barrington pharmacy Next to CouplaNds, 256 BarriNgtoN st Ph 332 3156 @WilsoNsBarriNgtoNpharmaCy 10% discount everyday using *excludes prescriptions & sale stock
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Bay Harbour: December 12, 2018

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