Hospitality Business Magazine

Victoria Street in Christchurch has become a benchmark for the rebuild of the commercial landscape and is now the prime entertainment and hospitality strip in the city. A significant number of law and accounting firms have signed long-term leases in the street, making it the main area of residence for professional businesses.

The development includes a single level architecturally pleasing 280 m2 standalone building, ideal for high quality hospitality/retail (but it can be split). The developer is seeking expressions of interest from proven operators wanting to secure the best site in the CBD Gateway.

The concept behind the site at 148 Victoria Street was to have a campus styled set up, with a standalone hospitality building at the front, a wraparound commercial building behind and a courtyard (or plaza) for recreation and entertainment in between. The complex, at 148 Victoria Street, is adjacent to the iconic Knox Church, on the corner of Bealey Avenue and Papanui Road, which is a feature bordering the courtyard.

Duncan Cotterill, the largest law firm in the South Island, has leased the entire office building, with subleases to the barristers in Canterbury Chambers, as well as merchant banker Murray & Co.

Artistically Interesting

Kerry Mason, of award-winning +MAP architects, said “the building offers outstanding street profile to the main access roads to the city. However, it has been deliberately set back to allow the gothic features of Knox Church to have prominence on the corner”.

A 13 metre high sculpture has been commissioned from well-known artist Graham Bennett, to have prominence in the courtyard.

Location, location, location

The building is in close proximity to the CBD, main public transport routes, Hagley Park as well as numerous other entertainment sites and amenities – making it a highly desirable Christchurch address. The building harnesses a double frontage with dual exposure to Knox Lane and Victoria Street, accompanied by a fine view towards the outstanding Southern Alps and fantastic sunny outdoor areas in the plaza style setting (ideal for fine dining).

On a main route from the airport into the city, the complex is ideal for ambitious, forward thinking hospitality outlets looking to relocate into one of Christchurch’s rebuild hot-spots.