The old Northern Steamship Co. is receiving a $2 million make-over and is reopening as The Brit. Just in time for the Rugby World Cup, the new opening sports fresh renovations in the same busy space as before.
Richard Sigley, director and founder of Nourish Group, has come up with the idea and hopes to be able to successfully direct The Brit along with his six other thriving venues in the same area. This new establishment will combine gastro-pub vibes with a ‘social hall’ feel, making it the perfect venue to catch the upcoming rugby games and have some quality food. Complete with six big screens and a projector for live sports, pool tables and an extensive food and beverage menu, the 440 square meter interior is sure to contribute to the growing thoroughfare of Auckland’s bustling downtown area.
“Downtown Auckland is thriving, but we felt it lacked a pub venue where people can come together, in small or large groups, to enjoy great drinks and food in a relaxed and modern space,” said Sigley. “We really wanted to own that with The Brit.”
“It’s been built around the notion of sociability. Whether you’re having drinks with colleagues after work, watching the game with friends or grabbing a bite to eat before a concert, it’s the perfect place for people to get together.”
Nourish Group’s executive chef, Gareth Stewart has designed The Brit’s menu, resulting in a diverse range of offerings, from stone-baked pizzas to fresh produce bowls. The design was engineered by CTRL Space, whose director, Chris Stevens, said the idea of sociability has been instrumental from the start of the process. “We wanted the vibe to be relaxed, and the design not overly complicated. The main bar is the focal point as it’s interestingly situated in the middle of the venue. It acts somewhat as a partition between two distinct areas, both of which have a number of break out spaces to encourage group gatherings.”
“We’ve utilised robust and noble materials including natural timber, terracotta tiles and marble countertops in the build while embracing the heritage of the building with interesting accents and the exterior signage. The result is a light, bright venue that hugely complements the surrounding architecture.”
The Brit opens Wednesday 28th August and is located at 122 Quay Street, Britomart, Auckland.
