Lombard and Bond Streets have been transformed into an attractive laneway environment as part of Wellington City Council’s Laneways project. Central City Projects portfolio lead Councillor Nicola Young said it was fitting that the Lombard area has been rejuvenated as a busy hub for business and culture.
“This area used to be the capital’s shoreline, with wharves, Customhouse and the Bond Store, and now this busy, bustling, precinct reflects its history,” she said. “Commercial enterprises are drawn to revitalised and vibrant areas with character. This latest project is already mirroring its predecessors with a popular community of restaurants, cafes, retail outlets, businesses, and the first New Zealand inner-city gin distillery opening soon.”
Eamon O’Rourke, director of the Denzien Urban Distillery, said that the area is a perfect fit for their new venture.
“As urban Wellingtonians, we are of course frequent users of the amenities that have sprung up in Wellington’s burgeoning Laneways scene,” he said. “In fact, early discussions about our business idea were conducted over a gin or two at Hanging Ditch on Leeds Street, so I guess you could say Laneways are part of our DNA. When we began our quest for the perfect location for New Zealand’s first urban distillery, we knew it had to be somewhere very special.
The event has pedestrian access through the Laneway via Manners St, Cuba St or Victoria St.
