News from NZ
Fresh back from a recent visit to Nightlife HQ in Australia, l couldn’t fail to notice the differences between our hospitality markets. There is an age old argument as to who has the most sheep and who invented pavlova, but when it comes to the hospitality industry, there is no argument, New Zealand has more licensed premises than Australia.

Deregulation of the market here in NZ saw a trebling of liquor licences over a 10 year period. There are now over 18,000 licences in New Zealand compared to just over 13,000 in Australia.

This difference in numbers is magnified when you compare the number of licensed premises per capita. As a result there is a significant difference in venues between our two countries. The Chalk, which featured in last month’s newsletter is a prime example of the Australian trend to build large, multiple in-house bars and restaurants in a stand alone location, which are patronised by large numbers of customers.

You would be hard pressed to find such a venue in New Zealand where small, niche-type operators are popping up everywhere, but most often than not ‘next door’ to existing venues. The typical NZ venue is minuscule when compared to its Australian counterpart.

There are however trends that both markets are following. The first is the growth of suburban bars which are counteracting the effects of tougher drink driving laws. Secondly, venues are catering for smokers with well designed, purpose built smoking bars compliant with the legislative requirements now upon both countries. Finally, there are big rewards for those operators who have invested in the industry and got it right through design, technology and sheer hard work.

 

Introducing DJ Tommy
If you’re a regular reader of the Nightlife newsletter, then the name DJ Tommy won’t be new to you. DJ Tommy is a regular when it comes to supplying us with the Top 5 songs playing in his venue, for our Top 5 from 5.

For the last eight months, DJ Tommy has been scaring the fish away and entertaining the patrons at Fisherman’s Wharf Tavern on the beautiful Gold Coast.

Originally from Ireland, Tommy first learnt of Nightlife when he made the move to Australia in 2000. He told us that Nightlife opened his eyes and he believes that, “…adding a visual to audio works a treat”.

According to Tommy, it all started for him in his bedroom and after entering a few DJ competitions, he became a mobile DJ lending his talents to various functions, from weddings through to school post formal parties.

Now that DJing has become his occupation, Tommy spends his spare time playing soccer and watching top flight DJ’s in action. DJ Tommy would love to meet fellow DJ Tiesto and pick up a few tips and tricks from the world’s best.

Zookey (Lift Your Leg Up) by Africanism is DJ Tommy’s song choice of late, but his favourite song of all time is, Forever Young by Youth Group.

 

Farewell to Linda
This month Nightlife said farewell to long time staff member and editor of the Nightlife Newsletter, Linda Holman.

For several years, Linda was an integral part of our Sales & Marketing team.  We would like to take this opportunity to farewell Linda and wish her all the best with her new career in real estate.