New venue signals momentum for Hamilton riverfront

Hours
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
154 Grantham Street, Hamilton
Website

Fresh hospitality investment is set to lure diners to the banks of the Waikato River at a spot that’s long been eyed for projects to show off the city’s biggest natural asset.

A bar and restaurant - Regatta - is set to open late autumn in the former Ferrybank Reception Centre in Grantham St.

The development, on the most accessible section of city’s riverbank under arch of the Victoria Bridge, comes soon after the CBD’s South End was given a massive boost with the opening of the BNZ Theatre and Hamilton Hotel.

The project is being welcomed as a sign of momentum on the city’s riverfront, with Hamilton deputy mayor Geoff Taylor - long an advocate of projects to turn the city back to the river - saying redeveloping the river was “absolutely integral” to revitalising the central city.

“I’m really hopeful that we’re going to see the southern part of Victoria Street buzz like it used to,” he said.

“The more people that you have in your central city, the more you feel a bit of a buzz, the safer you feel, it all sort of adds up.”

Read more