Bar that was first a victim to quakes closes its doors for good due to Covid

Tuesday, 25 April 2023

After 26 years, Viaduct Public House & Restaurant on Oxford Tce has been sold to an undisclosed buyer.

The owner of a once staple bar on Christchurch’s ‘The Strip’ says Covid-induced staff shortages and a new business opportunity have closed its doors for good.

Viaduct, which first opened on Oxford Tce in 1997, shut its doors due to structural damage and the city’s uncertain hospitality scene after the 2011 Canterbury quakes, and made its comeback ten years later.

But its comeback has lasted only two years as longtime owner Jonny Botherway sold to an undisclosed hospitality business owner in December, citing staff shortages “doing my head in”.

Botherway, who at times worked the bar himself until as late as 3am to keep it going, said retaining and attracting staff despite “paying through the nose” became too tough a challenge.

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Jonny Botherway has sold Viaduct to explore another business opportunity he’s keeping under wraps (File photo).

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Being two bar staff short consistently on busy nights along with low turnover was unsustainable, and a new business opportunity provided the catalyst for Botherway to sell, he said.

Licenced duty managers in particular were difficult to find, and because at least one was required to be present at all times, the owner often found himself having to cover.

“It’s not easy to keep staff…I had to run the floor and bar myself…I don’t mind, but I’m in my 50s and being in the bar until 3am is not ideal.”

He thought the venue would be better suited to an owner of multiple hospitality venues in Christchurch, so they could move staff around as they needed. The person he has sold to, who he wasn’t prepared to reveal, was just that, he said.

“Without Covid, I probably wouldn’t have become as frustrated…I didn’t want to be in a position where I was asking customers to please bear with us…We wanted to provide the best service possible.”

Viaduct’s replacement would likely focus more on operating as a restaurant rather than a bar and would be completely rebranded. Its new owner is doing a new fitout and is selling the Viaduct furniture online.

The original bar was opened by Botherway and served as a popular after-work drinks and weekend space along with adjoining venue di lusso.

The new location boasted a balcony overlooking the Avon river and a large island bar, as the venue doubled as both a restaurant and a nightclub on weekends, just like old times, but ultimately unsuccessfully.