Plans for an exciting new café, bar and restaurant housed in Queenstown’s historic McNeill’s Cottage were unveiled on Thursday. Queenstowners and visitors have come to expect nothing but eclectic offerings from the World Bar collaborators Steve Ward and Gary Livesey, and they’ve delivered yet again, with Yonder is scheduled to open in late July in an enviable downtown location in the heart of Queenstown.
Renovations are well underway in the 1882 cottage which will house Yonder. The cottage itself is a bit of a time capsule, renowned for its enduring character and original thick stone walls. Built in 1882 by Scottish stonemason James McNeill, it has been a hospitality destination since the early 1990’s when it housed Queenstown’s first microbrewery.
Director Gary Livesey said it was extremely exciting to watch the next chapter of this history-filled building evolve.
“We’ve designed Yonder to be a concept that’s open to more than one interpretation, hence the ambiguous name!” he said. “Our overall vision for the venue is to capture different audiences throughout the day, delivering a tailored experience for the purpose of your visit. We’ve put a lot of thought into the design of the space to create a morning to night ambience and offering.”
Malaysian-born head chef Jamie Samarakkody has designed menus for social sharing, with a diverse and accessible mix of new food lover options. Yonder will serve Atomic Coffee Roasters barista coffee and stock some of New Zealand’s finest beers including Dunedin’s Emerson’s craft beers and Wellington’s Panhead Custom Ales. The liquor cabinet will showcase an interesting gin collection, amongst other top shelf items.
