Dog Gone
The Dog and Bone pub on Lambton Quay (at best a lackluster fake English Pub, at worst a price-gouging sub-standard eatery) has now gone the way of the Dodo.
Brown paper obscures the windows and this sign has been posted (and photographed with my astoundingly poor quality phone-camera):
For those that can't see it, it says that the "staff at the Dog and Bone would like to thank..." blah blah blah. It continues: "as of May 12 the Dog and Bone has been sold, and is closed."
The message ends with a cryptic reference to the return of a "Wellington Icon". Earthquakes? Bad Weather? Fat Freddy's Drop?
Hmmmm, rampant speculation in the comments I suppose.
That was there hardly long enough to be an icon surely?
Remind me, what was there before, lik eyears ago - the 1860? No, that's not it.
For the sake of guessing, I'll say a new Barrett's Hotel.
For me it was - it was my single-mans hang out for years and had (actually, still had) the best "people* watching" seat in town.
I spent a fortune in Paris, would be a blast to have it back. I'd probably visit once (with the old house mates), loudly exclaim, "It's not as good as it used to be" and then realise I've moved on many many years ago.
* people was mostly, I will confess, women
You know I never got post a picture of the old Paris sign that is still on the side of that building...the 'a' and the 'r' are missing
Maybe the old Dungeon bar? The Occi will be emptied out if that's the case!
It used to be downstairs at... I think I've remembered - the Rhomney Arms!
And no, I don't think it was S & M.
No S&M, and no rumours that I know of. The Dungeon Bar was the nickname of what used to be the basement bar here many years ago, and it used to be the hangout for Maori civil servants. Have a look at this search to find some very old gossip that will be of interest to virtually no-one now, but must have been juicy at the time.
The pub was called the Royal Tiger
Wasn't that down the road from the Southern Cross? You may be right though - and if not, then it was called the Royal Something.
Return of a Wellington Icon... hmmmmm... Valentines?
Started off as the Royal - ca 1969 - the top bar the place to go on Sat nights to check out the talent (in our sexist way), and find out about parties. Dungeon bar was more Fri nights after-work drinking. All this knowledge rather dates me...
Oh yeah, it was called the Royal Tavern. Since it took us this long to remember, maybe it's not so iconic.
Nope - The Royal Tiger was on Taranaki Street - fake historic NZ nostalgia pub, beforecolonial cringe took over and only theme pubs allowed were Irish or Belgian...
"fake historic NZ nostalgia pub, before colonial cringe took over and only theme pubs allowed were Irish or Belgian..."
There's still plenty of "fake historic NZ nostalgia" around - the Bull & Bear is one example, and just about any Monteiths "gastro pub". At least Belgium makes decent beer.
The Royal Tiger was on Taranaki Street - fake historic NZ nostalgia pub, beforecolonial cringe took over and only theme pubs allowed were Irish or Belgian
The Royal Tiger was a gang pub in my day. Little unaffiliated guys like me stuck to the Southern X down the road.
The message ends with a cryptic reference to the return of a "Wellington Icon". Earthquakes? Bad Weather? Fat Freddy's Drop?
Carmen!
Actually, she'll be just in time for the next Dancing with the Stars series.
Surely it means Paris... as in the restaurant.