There’s a fresh buzz in Nelson’s hospitality scene as new venues open, long-standing favourites change hands, and locals return to cafes and restaurants after a tough winter.
Industry data from Hospitality New Zealand shows spending in August was up 4 per cent from July and 9 per cent higher than the same time last year.
“It’s great to see new hospitality venues opening, rebranding, and empty spaces being filled,” says Alexander Siebentritt, Nelson/Tasman branch president for Hospitality New Zealand.
“It’s great to see the vibrancy of the city spring back from the quieter winter months and the downturn in the economic climate — led by local support. Nelson has a thriving hospitality scene, and we’re delighted the passion for our industry is still going strong.”
Manager of Eight Plates on Upper Trafalgar St, Pete Coates, says there have been some “green shoots” recently after what he calls “a pretty tough grind” over the past year.
“Winter in Nelson is never easy,” he says. “However, locals and regulars are returning a bit more often.”
Pete has also noticed an early return of international visitors.
“We’ve had groups and couples from Spain, Norway, Australia, the US, Italy, and the UK just in the last two weeks. That’s hopefully a good sign for summer.”
Among those stepping into the industry are friends Colin Fitzwater and Orsi Weinber, who took over River Kitchen on Monday after 12 years under Blue and Clare Fleming.
Orsi, who has a background in hospitality management, is managing day-to-day operations, while Colin, with a background in banking, is handling the business side.
They discovered the cafe was for sale on Trade Me and decided it was the right opportunity at the right time.
They don’t plan to change much — just open an extra day on Mondays and start earlier at 7am.
“We believe if something works, you don’t touch it,” Orsi says. “I talked to a few friends, and when they found out I’d bought the café, they said, ‘Just make sure the chicken waffle stays on the menu’.”
They’re also looking forward to a busy summer, with the new bus terminal next door due for completion at the end of the year. Other venues are also changing hands or rebranding.
Nicola’s Cantina closed on 24 September and is set to reopen under new ownership in December and Bar Rosa has taken over the former Parts & Service site on Hardy St.
Marty’s Meats Smash Burgers is set to open in December in the former Morrison Cafe building, and Christina Lombardi is preparing to open MV Cafe in Marsden Valley around the same time.
Christina says the industry is starting to recover.
“We can see things growing — slowly picking up — but it’s been hard work to get there.”
In Richmond, Brava Cucina opened this week at Berryfields in Richmond.
The Italian restaurant, formerly Eat Italy, is the brainchild of Claudio Silva and Roberto Lombardi of Lombardi’s in Nelson.
Like many in the industry, Claudio has experienced challenging times, particularly during his recent tenure in Wellington as a chef at Havana Bar, where he witnessed the closure of numerous eateries in the city.
“It’s been tough, but things are heading into a positive space.”
With the cost-of-living crisis still biting, he says it’s about giving diners something different and something they are willing to pay for.
“We are feeling positive… excited. Richmond needs some more options… something different.”
They will serve Italian food “with a twist” – including pizza, pasta, and dishes built around local ingredients.
“I think this place is going to surprise a lot of people,” Claudio says.
“My main mission is to make people happy. The easy part is bringing people in; the hardest thing is bringing people back.”
With summer just around the corner, Alexander reckons the timing couldn’t be better.
“We expect to see more people out and about enjoying local food and drink as the weather warms and the days get longer,” he says.
“It’s fantastic that there will be even more venues for visitors to experience, adding to Nelson’s foodie reputation.”
