Stories

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This festive season looks like it’ll be a mixed bag for Hamilton’s hospitality scene - but one key player sees a $3.2b boost on the horizon.

With Christmas, and Christmas party season, kicking off the Waikato Times spoke to two of Hamilton’s key hospitality players to get their gauge on how the sector was looking.

Cook Bar owner and Hospitality NZ Waikato president Chris Rollitt was able to offer some Christmas cheer.

“We’re busy,” he said.

“A lot of workplaces start to do that social connection thing. You’re getting bigger groups coming out, wind-up functions. [They are] just celebrating getting through the year.”

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Hamilton’s newest culinary offerings are preparing to step into the spotlight — and some of them have already taken centre stage.

Five distinct eateries and bars are set to open in the Waikato Regional Theatre precinct, with two already open to the public. Visitors can already get a bite to eat before washing it down with a drink at the newly opened Hamilton Hotel and revamped Wonder Horse bar.

Hamilton Hotel owner Mat Pedley, who is also behind popular local eatery Mr Pickles, said it was a “phenomenal” feeling to be opening in the new theatre.

He described the venue as “French meets New York bistro” inspired. The interior was designed by local firm Designwell, and features plush banquettes, large windows looking onto the street front and oak detailing.

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Ballet fans in the Waikato will not want to be caught napping for this production.

The Royal New Zealand Ballet’s first official show at the new Waikato Regional Theatre will be Sleeping Beauty, which will tuck itself in for a three-day residency in November next year.

Featuring the music of Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky, the ballet’s story is one that will be familiar to almost everyone: A princess falls into an enchanted sleep after pricking her finger, but is eventually wakened by a kiss from her true love.

It was first staged in 1890 in St Petersburg, quickly becoming the second-most popular ballet in the repertoire of the Royal Imperial Ballet.

At full length it runs to a whopping four hours. Waikato audiences will be relieved - or possibly disappointed - they will be getting the more popular shortened version.

However it is still a big deal. There are 200 costumes - not including headdresses or shoes - and 32 dancers. About 60 people are involved in staging the show.

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The Waikato Regional Theatre will become disco central on Tuesday, February 3, when British pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor comes to play.

The Hamilton venue is one of only two on her just-announced tour of New Zealand - the other being the James Hay Theatre in Christchurch.

One of the biggest British artists to emerge from the early 2000s, Ellis-Bextor established her pop diva credentials with hits like Murder On The Dancefloor, Get Over You and Take Me Home.

Now with seven studio albums to her name. Ellis-Bextor’s discography encompases numerous genres, from dance-pop and folk to prog-rock and orchestral pop.

The London-born Ellis-Bextor grew up in a creative household, and took an interest in performing at an early age.

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Families can kick off the summer holidays with an interactive neon quest as multi-sensory show GLOtron! comes to Hamilton.

Described as a blend of science, education, art, storytelling and puppetry that combines all of Glow Show’s previous installations, GLOtron! will pop up in Centre Place Shopping Centre from December 6.

Glow Show creative director Sarah Burren told the Waikato Times that while she did not want to give too much away, families could expect the installation to be like “walking into a giant storybook”.

“It’s a 40-minute experience where you have a quest and beautiful photo opportunities. The whole thing is glow-in-the-dark.”

The show will include 350 characters and puppets from popular stories such as Matariki, Bad Jelly the Witch, and more.

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A relaxed and classy vibe awaits food lovers, with the flavours of Thai cuisine coming to life, right in the heart of Hamilton central.

Thai Classic, at the northern end of Victoria St, has been operating for 15 years and can fit up to 35 diners with Noi McKay taking over three years ago.

The previous incarnation of Thai Classic had blue carpet and maroon-coloured walls, which McKay did not like.

She gave the walls a greener, “more relaxed and classy” look and the flooring a wood lino look.

“Green is also my favourite colour,” McKay said.

In addition to Thai Classic, McKay is also the co-owner of Chim Thai restaurant in Rototuna, with Don McIlraith.

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It’s arguably Hamilton’s most significant artwork. It was probably the most unloved - for a while at least - and it is almost certainly the most valuable.

And now the iconic, large scale mural - created in 1973 by famed New Zealand artist Ralph Hotere and installed in the now-demolished Founders Theatre - has been placed inside its “forever home” in the Waikato Regional Theatre.

It’s the latest major development in an increasingly exciting series of developments, which will come to a head when the new theatre opens on January 19 with three nights of community-led celebrations.

Soon after will be the official launch event in the form of a concert by the acclaimed musician Teeks, followed by a sold-out show by the revered Dave Dobbyn - who has just added a second show the following night.

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A new bar could be on the cards in central Hamilton, but its owners are remaining tight-lipped on the venture as yet.

The Waikato Times understands Good George brewing director Jason Macklow is looking to build a new pub on Barton St, where the Coffee Studio is currently located.

The site was purchased in 2018 by Future Properties NZ Limited for $1.8 million.

Records show Macklow is the sole director of Future Properties NZ Limited.

When contacted by the Waikato Times, Macklow confirmed he had bought the Barton St site.

But he declined to confirm what sort of hospitality venture would be developed, saying it’s confidential at the moment.

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Macklow said he hasn’t decided what would be located at Barton St and would provide more detail in the new year.

Macklow, along with Darrel Hadley were the founders of the Phoenix Group, which owns numerous restaurants and bars around Hamilton. The pair have decades of involvement in the Hamilton hospitality scene, originating at the now Lawrenson Group-owned Outback Inn and Iguana in the 1990s.

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Hamilton has been recognised on the international stage for the Love the Centre campaign -- taking out the award over finalists from Sydney and Melbourne.

The Hamilton Central Business Association (HCBA) won the Best Traditional or Digital Marketing Award at the Mainstreet Australia 2025 Awards for the campaign.

The awards featured finalists from all over Australia and New Zealand, and honoured groups who were revitalising main streets.

HCBA General Manager Vanessa Williams said the group decided to enter the competition while organising their own Love the Centre Awards last year.

The HBCA were “so incredibly proud of the work that we had done with Daymark around the creation of the Love centre website”.

“So we thought, actually, yeah, let's put our money where our mouth is and, and see if there is an award programme that we could enter that celebrates our achievement as well.”

Asked how it felt to take out the award over other finalists, Williams said, “there was a lot of pride of Hamilton representing on the international stage against business associations in Sydney and Melbourne”.

“There was a little bit of chest puffing, I'll be honest.”

She said that the award recognised how the Love the Centre campaign showcased the city centre and local businesses.

“With our international flights we have with Jetstar now, you know, encouraging people over from Sydney and the Gold Coast, it's great to be able to profile the best of Hamilton City centre, and I think we do that.”

And what’s next for Love the Centre?

Williams said the HCBA were still growing the content of the site, and were listing more businesses. She added they were also looking into how they could use AI in the campaign.

“We're looking at different things that will make this a really functional site that people ... can use to really find the best of Hamilton Central.”

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From cakes to sweets, savouries and donuts, Gailers Cake Kitchen has it all.

The bakery’s roots date back to post-World War II, when a German man, Mr Gailer, moved to Hamilton.

Gailer opened the bakery in 1948, alongside two other staff members.

The bakery moved around Hamilton over the years, before settling on its current location in the northern part of Hamilton’s CBD.

Sharon Smith and her husband Brent have been running the Victoria St bakery for 30 years, though Smith said they originally planned to own it for only ten years.

Brent starts at 9pm and works through the night, making sure the sweets and pies are ready to go when the doors open at 6am.

Sharon and staffer Rachel, come in around 2am and stay on until closing at 2pm.

Smith said she wanted to sell the bakery two years before Covid, but her husband talked her out of it.

K Chicken is the authentic Korean food experience, where you'll elevate your expectations of what fried chicken can — and should — be.

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Forget everything you thought you knew about crispy chicken; K Chicken is here to set the benchmark for decadence, texture, and seasoning. It's a must-visit for visitors and locals alike who want to rediscover the heart of the city.

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Beyond the Chicken: The Full K-Food Experience

While the Korean Fried Chicken is the main event, K Chicken's menu is a unique blend of traditional and modern Korean dishes, embodying the spirit of K-Food, food shared and generously.

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This is the perfect place to gather your friends and family after a day of exploring the Hamilton Centre. The menu is designed to give you maximum enjoyment and value, because in Korean culture, great food is meant to be shared.

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Varieties of Selections

Dive into Tteokbokki: soft, chewy rice cakes smothered in a rich, sweet, and spicy sauce —a popular Korean street food that's texturally diverse and so satisfying.

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Or if you're after a different kind of handheld meal, K Chicken's take on the classic fast food item—the K Burgers—feature juicy patties and Korean seasonings, offering a fusion of international comfort food.

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And the rice bowl options — Soy Honey Chicken on Rice or Spicy Chicken on Rice — are perfectly portioned, hearty meals with fluffy rice, tender chicken, and fresh coleslaw, making them great for a quick lunch during a busy shopping trip.

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Their generous portions and value for money have been a hit with our customers. A Combo Special, for instance, is often enough to satisfy three people, making it a bargain and a delicious choice for groups. This emphasis on value ensures that everyone leaves K Chicken feeling not just full, but also satisfied and smart for choosing us.

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This focus on generosity means everyone leaves feeling full and loved

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The atmosphere at K Chicken is part of the experience. It's clean, welcoming, and often has K-pop music playing, so you're immersed in the fun and vibrant K-culture that's taking over the world.

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It's where the food, music, and staff come together to make a meal to remember.