'Hard pill to swallow': Owners of electronic nightclub Hide sell up after 7 years in business

Wednesday, 3 June 2026

Nightclub Hide will host its last party on June 27.

The owners of Christchurch nightclub Hide have sold up after seven years putting their “blood, sweat and tears” into it.

From humble beginnings of not even knowing how to tap a keg, to hosting some of the most energetic parties in the city, Mitch Ryder and Sam Smith announced on Wednesday the St Asaph St nightclub had sold.

The pair, who have hosted national and international electronic artists at the venue since 2019, said the club was doing well financially when they were approached by a buyer.

Hide owners Mitch Ryder and Sam Smith are also co-directors of Christchurch’s summer party, Lakes Festival:

Ryder said while they loved the party, with his young family and Smith’s budding family, if ever there was a time to end on a high note, it was now.

“Sam and I had been thinking about selling the club for a while, and it just seemed serendipitous that we had an approach during that time.

“It’s incredibly bittersweet. We’ve put our blood, sweat and tears into the club.”

They could not yet say if the new owners planned to keep the venue operating as a nightclub.

The purpose-built nightclub, which took inspiration from European electronic clubs, has been a cornerstone for the drum and bass and wider electronic community to gather for acts not always seen in mainstream bars.

They had come a long way, from surviving the Covid-19 lockdowns, the troughs of the hospitality sector, and challenging policies that could impact clubs and barssuch as noise restrictions in the city, Ryder said.

But Hide’s party had to stop sometime.

“Every club I’ve partied in eventually ends up going broke, so right now Hide’s profitable and we’d rather end on a high than hang on,” he said.

From left, Mitchell Ryder and Sam Smith present to council on the planned changes around noise limits in central Christchurch.

“Something else will happen and we’ll still be doing heaps of events all over town - we’re not going anywhere, it’s just Hide.”

Ryder said he and Smith, who have multiple businesses together, will continue to bring their style of hospitality to the city through parties, such as Lakes Festival.

“If anyone thinks you get into nightclubs for money, you’re an insane person,” he said.

“We’re not rich, but we’re super wealthy in experiences, that’s for sure. We made some of our best friends by having Hide, we’ve hosted some of the world’s best and our favourite artists.”

The announcement has been met with a wave of grief from ravers who found their home on Hide’s dance floor.

One commenter said the announcement was a “hard pill to swallow”.

Another thanked Ryder and Smith for their service to the community, saying “Thank you for all the wonderful times and memories and creating opportunities for people to play and to see their heroes on stage. Bunch of legends y’all”.

For the rest of June the club is running a “series of heavy hitting closing parties”. The last party will be on June 27.

“We hope you can make it for one final dance with us,” Ryder and Smith said.