SAVE Sammy’s (former His Majesty’s Theatre & Agricultural Hall)

Agricultural Hall. Burton Brothers studio. Te Papa Archives [C.012324]

His Majesty's Theatre, Dunedin [render via realestate.co.nz]His Majesty’s Theatre, Dunedin [render via realestate.co.nz]

Sammy's on Crawford [dunedinmusic.com]Sammy’s portico to Crawford Street [dunedinmusic.com]

REAL ESTATE BLURB | Built 1896 Agricultural Hall 1902 Renamed His Majesty’s Theatre 1983 Sammy’s Cabaret & Restaurant
Time for someone else to take over the reins – with fresh enthusiasm and ideas for this iconic Dunedin property. Located in the heart of Dunedin’s rapidly developing ‘Warehouse Precinct’ it lends itself to a multitude of uses. Building 1500m with frontages to both Crawford & Vogel Streets. http://www.remax.co.nz/10395003

█ SOUL DESTROYING LACK OF DISTRICT PLAN SCHEDULING
‘An offer pending consent for Sammy’s would more likely mean plans to considerably alter or demolish the building.’ –Glen Hazelton, DCC Policy Planner (Heritage)

█ SHINING LIGHTS
“It’s already protected under our Act, that’s the main thing.” –Matthew Schmidt, HNZ Otago Southland regional archaeologist

### ODT Online Wed, 18 Nov 2015
Uncertain future for venue
By Craig Borley
Demolition could be an option for Sammy’s, one of Dunedin’s most loved live music venues and one of the warehouse precinct’s largest buildings. On the market for “a few months” and with a list price of $240,000, the 1896 building had attracted attention from several potential buyers, owner Sam Chin said yesterday. Interest from one of those potential buyers was contingent on gaining a resource consent, Mr Chin said. He could not name the potential buyer and did not know what that resource consent was for.
Read more

BIG QUEST TO FIND THE RIGHT NEW OWNER – MEANWHILE, CITIZEN DUTY TO PROTECT THE BUILDING AS AN ICONIC PRESENCE IN VOGEL STREET HERITAGE PRECINCT AND WAREHOUSE PRECINCT

Sammy's Dunedin, NZ 7.9.12 [Sola Rosa via staticflickr.com]Sammy’s Dunedin NZ 7.9.12 [Sola Rosa via staticflickr.com]

Sammy's [alizarinlizard.blogspot.co.nz]Sammy’s (2011) [alizarinlizard.blogspot.co.nz]

“….we got back to Dunedin by lunchtime and unloaded the P.A gear into Sammys then went home an slept the rest of the day till we had to come back an sound check..
but yeah, played later on that night and had a blast. Sammys looks absolutely amazing now days if you havent seen it already.”
–Alizarin Lizard, Dunedin psych-pop quartet

But what looked good at night under lights in 2011 was profoundly “trouble” due to lack of diligent building repair and maintenance, or any appreciation for fire safety…. and more words from Mr Chin….

[via comments at What if? Dunedin]

Elizabeth
June 1, 2011 at 2:58 am
### D Scene 1-6-11
Future of Sammy’s uncertain after eviction (page 3)
The future of notable Dunedin music venue Sammy’s is uncertain, after the eviction earlier this week of the operators of the Crawford St business. Building owner Sam Chin told D Scene yesterday that he had moved into the venue on Monday night and changed the locks. “The venue is closed for now and we’re just cleaning things up.”
{continues} #bookmark [search required]

Elizabeth
June 2, 2011 at 8:40 pm
Tweet:
(2 June, 8:32pm) @DunedinTV Sammy’s closed down due to being in a complete state of disrepair http://tinyurl.com/43dprnf #channel9 #dunedin #tv #nz

Elizabeth
June 23, 2011 at 2:33 pm
### ODT Online Thu, 23 Jun 2011
Nightclub owner angry over damage at venue
By Nigel Benson
Sammy’s owner Sam Chin has experienced some wild nights at the nightclub over the years. But he was not prepared for the sight which greeted him when he changed the locks on the building three weeks ago, after not receiving rent from the lessee since November. […] The venue opened in 1896 as the Agricultural Hall, before being renamed His Majesty’s Theatre, and has a long history as a hall, theatre and live music venue. Mr Chin said he wanted to maintain that tradition and reopen it for concerts next month.
Read more

Elizabeth
August 7, 2011 at 11:36 am
### ODT Online Sun, 7 Aug 2011
Sammy’s set to reopen this month
By Nigel Benson
Sammy’s will reopen this month after being closed in June for refurbishment. Owner Sam Chin shut the venue after the building fell into disrepair. He said yesterday demand had led to him taking bookings again. […] “We had a lot of inquiries about when we were going to reopen. It’s such a good space with plenty of room for 500-plus people. We’ve already got three or four university graduation dinners booked in over the next couple of weeks.”
Read more

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

34 Comments

Filed under Architecture, Business, Concerts, Construction, DCC, Democracy, Design, Dunedin, Economics, Heritage, Heritage NZ, Inspiration, Media, Name, New Zealand, People, Politics, Project management, Property, Tourism, Town planning, Urban design, What stadium

34 responses to “SAVE Sammy’s (former His Majesty’s Theatre & Agricultural Hall)

  1. Elizabeth

    Working notes (draft) compiled by Melissa Adeau.
    Sourced by Elizabeth Kerr, from computer records (2007) of the former Otago Branch, New Zealand Historic Places Trust.

    Agricultural Hall / His Majesty’s Theatre

    The new Agricultural Hall was built in 1896-97, commissioned by the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society. The architect was James Hislop (1859-1904).

    Other buildings designed by Hislop in Dunedin include: Crown Roller Mills (c.1880), The New Zealand South Seas Exhibition Building (1889-90), Dunedin City Abattoirs, Wesleyan Church in South Dunedin, and the Presbyterian Hall in North Dunedin. His favourite architectural style was Renaissance and he often used elements such as oriel windows and arched portals.[1]

    His Majesty’s Theatre, Crawford St. (Gold Medal Postcards). From David Johnson, Dunedin - A pictorial history (Christchurch, 1993) p92His Majesty’s Theatre, Crawford St (Gold Medal Postcards), in David Johnson, Dunedin: A pictorial history (Christchurch, 1993), p92

    Since 1899 the Agricultural Hall was used for theatrical entertainments on a small scale. In 1902 considerable alterations were undertaken on the interior of the Hall.
    J. Turner was the owner J.C. Williamson’s ‘handy man’ who converted the Agricultural Hall into His Majesty’s Theatre.[2] Mr Turner left for Melbourne after completion, having received a gold watch for his ‘invaluable services’.

    In December 1902 the Hall reopened as ‘His Majesty’s Theatre’.[3] The first production in the new theatre was ‘A Runaway Girl’ on 9 December.

    His Majesty’s Theatre. Proscenium. Otago Witness, 31 Dec 1902, p42His Majesty’s Theatre – Proscenium. Otago Witness 31/12/02, p.42

    Reported to be magnificent in its modernity, the theatre seated 1850 persons (dress circle 400, orchestra stalls 200, ordinary stalls 350 and the pit 900). The dress circle and orchestral stall seats were upholstered in velvet and wood was French polished.

    Stage 50 feet wide and 80 feet long. 13 Dressing rooms for the performers. Interior decorations were made by local craftsman J. Rooney of St Clair. Flesh coloured background, sea-green and rose-pink decorations and silver and gold leaf. Rooney also made ‘stock scenery’ for the theatre. All lamps around the auditorium were described as ‘incandescent electric’.[4]

    Coopers MacDermott Biograph was the first company to screen movies at the theatre on 1 June 1904. It was a recorded documentary of the Russo-Japanese conflict (it broke on 13 February, 1904). The first long film for Dunedin was screened at His Majesty’s theatre in February 1906. Two and a half hours of ‘Living London’ – 280 scenes in 14 parts. On 17 September 1906 the first sound on disc movies were screened at the His Majesty’s Theatre. By 1907-11 fewer movies were being played and the last cinema show was 5 August 1911.[5]

    Fuller-Haywards reopened the theatre on the 15 September 1936 with a James Cagney movie. The building closed as a cinema in the early 1940s and as a live theatre in 1973.

    The frontage of the building was retained for offices. The proprietor of the building was the Agricultural Hall Co. Ltd. The secretary of the company, H.C. Campbell, had an office in the front where he administered the affairs of the Dunedin Choral Society, the Otago Central Railway League, and the Dunedin and Suburban General Carriers and Coal Merchants Industrial Union of Employees – an unusual mix.[6]

    His Majesty's Theatre. Hardwicke Knight, Dunedin Then (Dunedin, 1974) p164From Hardwicke Knight, Dunedin Then (Dunedin, 1974), p.164

    Few images survive of the rear of the Agricultural Hall / His Majesty’s Theatre. This poor quality image appeared in the Otago Witness:

    Rear of Agricultural Hall, Otago Witness, 30 Jan 1901Otago Witness 30/1/1901

    Interior images from the His Majesty’s Theatre (c.1974)

    His Majesty's Theatre. Auditorium, looking from stage. [via Unknown, Cinemas - Dunedin and districts, 1897-1974 (Dunedin, 1974) p12Author unknown, in Cinemas: Dunedin and districts, 1897-1974 (Dunedin, 1974), p.12

    His Majesty's Theatre. Ceiling of theatre. Hocken Collections.View from the stage. Hocken Collections.

    His Majesty's Theatre. View from stage. Hocken Collections.Ceiling of theatre. Hocken Collections.

    Footnotes
    [1] H Knight and N Wales, Buildings of Dunedin (Dunedin, 1988), pp.118-20.
    [2] Otago Witness 10/12/1902, pp.56-7.
    [3] Elizabeth Wilkins, ‘Thirty years of Theatre in Dunedin 1875-1905’, University of Otago thesis (1981), Hocken Collections , p.74.
    [4] Wilkins, ‘Thirty years’, p.74.
    [5] Unknown, Cinemas: Dunedin and districts, 1897-1974 (Dunedin, 1974), p.12, Hocken Collections.
    [6] David Johnson, Dunedin: A pictorial history (Christchurch, 1993), p.92.

  2. Richard Stedman

    The [waterfront] area was still being reclaimed in the 1880s and the Agricultural Hall was built during 1896. In 1898 [the building] played a major role in the celebration of Dunedin’s 50th anniversary with a wide range of entertainments beginning in March and culminating with the Winter Show in June. It must be saved and restored.

    {Moderated, Eds}

  3. Hype O'Thermia

    His Majesty’s was glorious! Alas “proscenium arch” became a near-swear word describing an old-fashioned type of play, and along with kitchen sink dramas and experimental works came tedious novelty such as “theatre in the round” a.k.a. audience sit all around and get to hear occasional segments of the performance, depending on which way the actors are facing. Microphones had not kept pace with the urge for newness.
    The pricking of my thumbs tells me fashion is changing again, along with appreciation of ornate old buildings and comfortable seating with a good view of the stage. His Majesty’s will be appreciated again, will become one of our proudest treasures. The challenge is to delay demolition until our leaders catch up.

    Sammy's [realestate.co.nz] 1 Sammy’s 2015 [realestate.co.nz] -Eds

  4. Elizabeth

    ODT Online 18.11.15 [screenshot]

    ODT Online Comment Kerr 18.11.15 [screenshot]

    • Hype O'Thermia

      Can you please supply a cheat for the correct part of the 2GP to refer to, for saying His Majesty’s (Sammy’s) is too fabulous to risk losing.
      Actually the whole ghastliness cries out for templates into which people could insert their own addresses/objections+reasons/extra matters like HM’s we want action on.

      • Elizabeth

        David Murray of Built in Dunedin website and Upright! Facebook page has developed a template. Contact David online or email him via Hocken Archives for information.

  5. Elizabeth

    Another upset, Chick’s Hotel to close.

    [click to enlarge]
    Facebook - Michael McLeod 19.11.15

    https://www.facebook.com/michael.mcleod.7737 “Recently we have made the decision to close Chick’s Hotel early into 2016. We are not entirely sure when we will do this, maybe the end of March. It will have been 3 and a half years by then, and it’s been a lot of fun, and also insanely stressful and difficult at times. I think we have achieved more than we ever anticipated in terms of the calibre of acts we brought here. I got to go out for dinner with J Mascis, play golf with Stephen Malkmus, smoke cigarettes with Sharon van Etten, share an intimate glass or two of red wine with Sam Hunt after dropping him at his accommodation after the show. Next weekend I get to drive Steve Albini around for a couple of days. We’ve bought tonnes of great shows down here, risking (and often losing) money in the process of doing so. It’s been a complete cultural success, and we’ve loved providing a great venue for the community. Financially, it’s been difficult, not atrocious, but not really very great. I feel like I’ve aged about 10 years over the 3 and a half wondering if we can juggle the money to pay the bills each month. We are hoping to remain in the space and turn it into a studio at this stage, but we are open to ridiculously over-priced offers to buy the business, although we would probably say no to most of them, and the business is only really viable as a work-your-ass-off owner/operator venture. It’s hard. Thanks heaps to everybody who has supported us over the last few years, I think collectively we’ve all helped make it a really special space. We have a strong programme going forward through summer, so I hope you can all come and enjoy a few more events at Chick’s before we pull the shades down next year.”

    [poplibnz.files.wordpress.com]

    ### ODT Online Thu, 19 Nov 2015
    Beloved music venue to close doors
    By Vaughan Elder
    Beloved Dunedin music venue Chick’s Hotel has announced it will be shutting its doors next year. Chick’s Hotel operator Mike McLeod, who took over the bar with a group of Dunedin musicians in 2012, said today on Facebook a decision had been made to close the Port Chalmers bar early next year, possibly the end of March.
    Read more

    Chicks_Hotel [radionz.co.nz][radionz.co.nz]

    • Elizabeth

      ### ODT Online Sat, 19 Mar 2016
      Much-loved music venue calling time
      By Vaughan Elder
      A haven for Dunedin’s alternative music scene is having its last hurrah tomorrow, leaving a hole which will be hard to fill. […] Tomorrow night will see the end of the hotel’s music chapter, with Dunedin bands The Clean and McLeod’s band The Shifting Sands playing a sold-out performance. The Clean bassist Robert Scott, who lives in nearby Roseneath, said it was an honour to be the last band to play there.
      Read more

    • Elizabeth

      Sun, 12 Feb 2017
      ODT: Hotel to recording studio — Chick’s mixing it up
      Chick’s Hotel has been transformed into a recording studio. The Port Chalmers music venue, which finished hosting gigs just under a year ago, has been filled with microphones, drum kits, keyboards and guitars, ready for  a variety of artists to record. Studio engineer Tom Bell, who ran the gig venue alongside Mike McLeod for about three years […] had decided to go “old school”, recording most bands live in the Mount St studio, being able to “mix it straight away” and finish most projects within a few weeks. Cont/

  6. Elizabeth

    Sammy’s —ground rent hiked thus sale, potential for demo as a carpark, sale price c $290,000

    ### ODT Online Mon, 21 Dec 2015
    Best candidate for mid-sized theatre
    By Peter Entwisle – Art Beat
    OPINION In November, the Otago Daily Times published a photo and a report saying Sammy’s, the nightclub at 65 Crawford St, formerly His Majesty’s Theatre, was for sale. Apparently, a prospective purchaser would likely demolish it and use the site as an open air car park.
    Read more

    ****

    ODT 20.11.15 (page 10)

    2015-11-20 17.24.05

  7. Elizabeth

    The onus is on DCC to schedule and protect the Sammy’s building in the district plan – via the proposed 2GP.

    The building’s only protection was afforded by its age. [see HNZPT Act]

    ### ODT Online Thu, 7 Jan 2016
    Call for Sammy’s to be protected
    By Craig Borley
    “Sammy’s” building, the former His Majesty’s Theatre, is of national importance and deserves significant legal protection […] But the building, on leasehold land and for sale for a listed $240,000, does not appear on either the Heritage New Zealand (HNZ) or Dunedin City Council lists of heritage buildings.
    Read more

    NB. All pre-1900 buildings in New Zealand are considered archaeological sites, meaning archaeological assessments are required when significant alteration or demolition work was proposed. (ODT).

    The relevant heritage legislation, the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014, is beefed up in terms of archaeological provisions and can prevent demolition occurring if applied.

    The potential listing of the building by Heritage New Zealand HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH BUILDING PROTECTION. Listing by HNZ is a public advocacy tool only.

    • Peter

      It would be great for a private developer to restore the ugly facade if possible. If not, at least some faux front to take the harsh frontage edge away.
      I have never been inside this building as I’m not a music buff. I understand it is pretty original inside?

      • Callum

        Ugly facade? I’ve never been inside the building before myself. But I have been passed it a lot. I didn’t know how beautiful the original facade was. Its a shame it was taken down. I find the Sammys building quite weird with the pavilion thing at the front.

  8. Elizabeth

    Restoration and redevelopment is one thing. I can support that.

    I am OVER Dunedin City Council supporting historic heritage as a subsidy to private enterprise whether or not it involves council aquisition of property. This is NOT the welfare state. Each property must stand (or fall) on its business merits. That is the market.

    Yes I have joined the revolution. I could have stayed outside the revolution had DCC not made continual cockups and bad decisions with Property and Infrastructure Assets (includes the ongoing Stadium spend, the Strategic Cycle Network, the lack of maintenance and upgrade to South Dunedin drainage systems, and the pending Central City Plan tinsel) and the Infrastructure Services Network as a whole.

    Council spending priorities must now CHANGE – acquisition of another theatre with no business plan for REAL return, will become another DVML rope around Ratepayer necks. Mark my words.

    ### ODT Online Sat, 9 Jan 2016
    Call to restore ‘His Majesty’ to past glory
    By Craig Borley and Shawn McAvinue
    His Majesty’s Theatre should be reborn, saving a nationally-important heritage building and giving Dunedin a much needed medium-size live theatre venue.
    Read more

  9. Elizabeth

    The opposed licence comes as Sammy’s remains for sale with a list price of $240,000.

    Some misrepresentative reporting re HNZ’s lack of listing for the building. I will emphasise that HNZ listing does not protect a building; only scheduling in the district plan can offer protection and DCC does not have Sammy’s listed. I have written a comment to ODT Online to clarify this – as yet unpublished. There is, however, facility for protection of pre-1900 buildings under the statutory archaeological provisions of the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014.

    Thu, 31 Mar 2016
    ODT: Threat to Sammy’s escalates
    Under-threat Dunedin music venue Sammy’s has been dealt another blow with police and Public Health South opposing its liquor licence. A district licensing committee hearing is to be held on the licence on April 13 and Dunedin City Council licensing inspector Tony Mole confirmed it was over the suitability of owner and hospitality veteran Sam Chin.

  10. Elizabeth

    Unpublished at ODT Online:

    Listed buildings
    new
    Submitted by ej kerr on Thu, 31/03/2016 – 1:20pm.
    The issue is not that the Sammy’s building (formerly the Agricultural Hall built in 1896; renamed His Majesty’s Theatre in 1902) isn’t registered as a historic place by Heritage New Zealand (HNZ), although that would be helpful to publicly advocate for the building’s heritage values and its comparative regional and natonal significance.
    The ODT will be aware that listing by HNZ does not protect the building from demolition; that said, a pre-1900 building may receive protection under archaeological provisions of the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014. This could likely apply for Sammy’s.
    Generally, perhaps unequivocably, a building of this kind should be listed for protection in Schedule 25.1 of the operative Dunedin City District Plan.
    Good news: Dunedin City Council has recently received nominations to list Sammy’s, through public submissions on the draft second generation district plan (2GP). In particular, architectural historian Peter Entwisle’s nomination is well supported by research findings.

    Disclaimer: Elizabeth Kerr is a former Otago Branch chair of New Zealand Historic Places Trust (2000-2009).

    Oh. Published a day later. Abridgement unacknowledged in bold.
    http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/378008/threat-sammy-s-escalates#comment-82513

  11. Elizabeth

    COOL FOR SAMMY’S

    Wed, 6 Apr 2016
    ODT: City tribute show for Bowie
    Dunedin Bowie fans Heidi Hayward and husband Greg MacLeod have been working to create a Dunedin tribute to the glam rock star on April 15. Local bands and guests will perform Bowie hits in an R18 gig at Sammy’s. […] Ms Hayward said Dunedin’s performing arts community had embraced the opportunity to perform at “the wake”, with Sammy’s owner, Sam Chin, providing the venue free of charge.

    ● Any profits would be given to Otago Community Hospice.

  12. Elizabeth

    The application will be heard by the district licensing committee on Wednesday.

    Sat, 9 Apr 2016
    ODT: Renewal opposed due to owner’s attitude
    Authorities are opposing the renewal of Sammy’s Entertainment Venue’s liquor licence because of the owner’s attitude to host responsibility. Police, Public Health South and the Dunedin City Council’s licensing inspector are opposed to renewing the licence for owner Sam Chin and have listed issues in their respective reports to the district licensing committee, which will hear the application next week.

    • Hype O'Thermia

      Very sad. At first I thought, this looks like one of those Totally Coincidental series of occurrences that cause something to fail. Coincidentally advantageously (after a brief pause) for someone else….
      But truly – this FAIL is so surprisingly comprehensive it could be in a novel, Chapter 10 revealing it to have been scripted and choreographed for reasons only revealed when all the characters are assembled in the drawing room for Lady Betula fferox’s birthday bash.

  13. Elizabeth

    Thu, 14 Apr 2016
    ODT: Nightclub owner given licence reprieve
    A personable nature and the history of nightclub Sammy’s appear to have helped earn owner Sam Chin a reprieve. He now has 28 days to convince a district licensing committee he should continue running the venue.

  14. Elizabeth

    Sat, 28 May 2016
    ODT: Hearing on Sammy’s soon
    A hearing into Sammy Chin’s liquor licence for his nightclub Sammy’s should be reconvened soon. Authorities opposed the renewal of the licence last month because of Mr Chin’s attitude to host responsibility.

  15. Elizabeth

    Tue, 26 Jul 2016
    ODT: Sammy’s fails to impress
    The future of Dunedin nightclub Sammy’s looks bleak after a damning report from liquor licensing and Southern District Health Board representatives. They found, despite promises from the venue’s owner, Sam Chin, in April to run the premises in accordance with the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, there were a series of transgressions at a Katchafire gig last Friday.

  16. Hype O'Thermia

    {Shakes head} Why isn’t he getting his shit together? I mean {total bafflement} WHY? He wants rid of the business, without having to say “I’m over this, I want rid”? Or what? Uh?

  17. Elizabeth

    ### dunedintv.co.nz Wd, 27 Jul 2016
    Concern for future of Sammy’s
    The future of one of the city’s iconic live music facilities is up in the air. Sammy’s Entertainment Venue has been a mainstay in Dunedin since the 1980s having hosted The Pogues, Billy Bragg, and many other famous acts. But with the premises up for sale, there’s concern it may be flattened.
    Ch39 Link

    Channel 39 Published on Jul 26, 2016

    • Hype O'Thermia

      A Wise Response by Mr Chin regarding residential adaptations in the buildings around Sammy’s. A previous venue, much smaller but equally valuable, was killed by development of apartments in nearby commercial buildings without a requirement for them to be noise-proofed.
      Then when the new neighbours complained who suffered? Arc Cafe! Noise limits imposed that were completely unsuitable for existing use, led to its closing.
      We need to watch the whole Sammy’s situation to make sure the theatre isn’t effectively rendered unusable by council permits to other property owners.

  18. Elizabeth

    No confidence applicant is capable of making necessary changes to make premises compliant with Act. –Licensing Committee

    Fri, 5 Aug 2016
    ODT: Sammy’s loses liquor licence
    Dunedin nightclub Sammy’s has had its liquor licence declined after myriad issues were identified by authorities. The Dunedin District Licensing Committee issued its decision yesterday, effective immediately. The Crawford St venue has been owned and operated by the Chin family for more than 30 years.

  19. Elizabeth

    Sat, 6 Aug 2016
    ODT: Last drinks ordered for club
    The owner of Dunedin nightclub Sammy’s has lost his liquor licence, but hopes the venue that has been running for more than three decades will stay open. […] Mr Chin responded yesterday he was considering appealing the decision. He said: “The authorities are right, I have been slack. But now I know how bad it is, I’ll get things back in order, hopefully.”

    • Hype O'Thermia

      Can’t he put a manager in to keep it functioning while he sorts his own priorities out? Wouldn’t it be able to get its liquor licence back if it had a manager in charge?

      • Elizabeth

        That’s been stated to him as one 9f his options by the licensing committee. Maybe he’s all out of bucks thus the total lack of standards to this point.

  20. Elizabeth

    Sammy’s is still on the market.

    Fri, 26 Aug 2016
    ODT: Plan to use special licence
    Sammy’s nightclub owner Sam Chin may have lost his liquor licence, but he says that does not mean the venue will close. Mr Chin yesterday confirmed he had not appealed a decision earlier this month by a Dunedin district licensing committee to refuse his licence. […] He planned to run events with a special liquor licence, which would require him to hire a licensed manager to run them.

  21. Elizabeth

    Wed, 28 Sep 2016
    ODT: Caught in changing times
    Sam Chin says he hasn’t changed in 38 years. The problem is, the industry has. The Dunedin hospitality veteran and owner of entertainment venue Sammy’s was last month stripped of his venue’s alcohol on-licence, after being found to have repeatedly breached the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act.
    That included not taking steps to control intoxication, and provide adequate low-alcohol beer and water for patrons.

  22. Elizabeth

    Not sure if it’s my associate or not but here’s hoping!

    Thu, 19 Jan 2017
    ODT: Live music venue ‘under contract’
    The sale of Dunedin live music venue Sammy’s is in the offing. Potential buyers are completing due diligence on the 121-year-old building in Crawford St. The building was for sale on a freehold basis, and in an unusual move, Dunedin investment company Oakwood Properties, owned by the Marsh family, was offering the land for sale, while Dunedin’s Chin family was selling the building. Cont/

    See new post:
    █ 3.2.17 MORE DCC bull dust and poor investment #Sammy’s

  23. Elizabeth

    More horror inflicted by the University Ivy Leaves.
    Another live venue about to go west at Dunedin.
    Another pasty fudging overpaid accountant (NO, not music lecturer Ian Chapman, pictured).

    At Facebook:

    Fri, 19 May 2017
    Re:Fuel’s future as band venue unclear
    By Vaughan Elder
    A University of Otago music lecturer is concerned the fate of yet another Dunedin music venue is up in the air. This comes as university chief operating officer Stephen Willis confirmed the future of university-run bar Re:Fuel was part of a campus-wide food, beverage and retail strategy. Asked if this could mean the end of Re:Fuel, Mr Willis said: “Until the strategy has been completed, we cannot speculate.” He confirmed management of the bar had recently been brought under the management of the university’s conference and events division. One position was disestablished, which the Otago Daily Times understands was bar manager Scott Muir. Cont/

  24. Hype O'Thermia

    What’s attractive for students, tourists and US the people who live here, about a city with s.f.a. places to hear live music? What’s stimulating for musicians about nowhere to play for people outside their family/flatmates?

    Is there something slightly weird about being sold the Fubar stadium because as well as rugby, we’d get all these great music events, but when it comes to the music available, many styles, many times many places every week, it’s yeah-nah whatevs, save a dollar by closing another venue.

    Given the amount of consideration and cooperation WE – ratepayers via DCC – give the University…. How about some firm reminders of quid pro quo?

    Losing creatives (producers AND along with them their “consumers”) is something Dunedin cannot afford. Vibrant City won’t happen with new banners and the occasional DCC “event” provided by inhouse Event Management.

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