Remember When

Located in the heritage precinct of Cathedral Square in central Christchurch, Bailies Irish Bar and Restaurant in the Warner’s Hotel building has had a colourful past that rivals any soap opera! Since the business was established in 1863, we’ve survived fire, The Depression, 10 o’clock closing, structural changes, competition, recessions, court cases, threatened demolition and earthquakes.

---

1863     Established as Coker’s Commercial Rooms, Coker’s Hotel.

---

1874     Swashbuckling seaman and explorer William Francis Warner buys the establishment.

---

1900   A great fire destroys the four storey timber hotel.

---

1901    A grander three storey brick and concrete Warner’s arises from the ashes to maintain Warner’s reputation as the most sumptuous and up to the minute hotel in the Province.

---

1901    A grand seven course banquet is held for Captain Scott’s expedition to Antarctica. The menu was written in French and 100 guests attended.

---

1902    Warner’s Hotel is included in possibly the first Tourist’s Guide to Canterbury ever published.

---

1907    Earnest Shackleton, organiser  and leader of the British Antarctic Expedition makes Warners his command post in Christchurch.

---

1927    Royal Highness the Duke of York stays at Warners.

---

1967    The hotel and tavern are physically separated.

---

1978    A hole is cut in the roof so a helicopter can lower a grand piano  into the lounge bar.

---

1986    Warner’s bar is renamed Bailies Bar.

---

1990    Public launch of Guinness in New Zealand held at Bailies Bar

---

1999    The red carpet is laid out for American president Bill Clinton and his family who are staying 100m away at the Millennium Hotel.

---

2000    Warners Hotel building is saved from demolition at the 11th hour.

---

2001    Scott dinner is held exactly 100 years after the original dinner given to Antarctic explorer Commander Scott and his men. The guests of honour were Sir Edmund and Lady Hillary. Even the original menu was reproduced.

---

2002    A book ‘More Than Bricks and Mortar’ is written about Warner’s Hotel by town crier Stephen Symons.

---

2005    Rugby central for British Irish Lions tour fans

---

2006    Bailies Bar signage appears in the American adventure film Eight Below.

---

2010    Rated by the Sydney Morning Herald as Australasia’s oldest Irish bar and a month later survived a 7.1 magnitude earthquake.  

---

2011    On 22 February survived a 6.3 magnitude earthquake that temporarily closed the business.

---

Stay in touch with Bailies Irish Bar and Restaurant on Facebook! Click here

---

Looking for Great food and wine then contact us today