Waikato Times: A feast before the curtain rises - Hamilton’s hospo heavyweights reveal Theatre offerings

Originally published in Waikato Times, Friday 5 September 2025.

By Avina Vidyadharan.

Hamilton Hotel owners, from left, Mathew Pedley, Jonathan Knapp, John Moughan, and Alex Hudson. PHOTO: Mark Taylor / WAIKATO TIMES.

The $80 million regional theatre is almost ready to raise its curtain but before the first performance begins, Hamilton’s hospo bosses are ready to steal the spotlight.

Five distinct hospitality offerings will open inside the precinct this November, promising everything from a French-inspired bistro and neighbourhood pub to a speakeasy cocktail lounge, a deli, and the rebirth of the city’s most iconic bar, Wonder Horse.

The vision belongs to hospo heavyweights Mat Pedley, Alex Hudson and John Moughan — the trio behind some of Hamilton’s busiest venues, including Reggie’s, Mr Pickles, Everyday Eatery, and Last Place.

Alongside is Jonathan Knapp, who is stepping in as general manager and co-owner of Hamilton Hotel, the anchor venue set to greet every guest as they enter the theatre complex.

“This is the biggest project in Hamilton,” Pedley said, calling the scale simply “awesome.” Hudson agreed, describing it as “pretty exciting,” and both said it was as much about investing in Hamilton’s CBD as it was about hospitality.

Visitors entering the theatre precinct will first be greeted by Hamilton Hotel, which is split neatly in two.

To the right, the Bistro leans into polished detail: plush banquets, lowered ceilings and a kitchen large enough to handle a busy pre-show rush.

The Hamilton Hotel vision belongs to, from left, Jonathan Knapp, Mat Pedley, John Moughan and Alex Hudson. PHOTO: Mark Taylor / WAIKATO TIMES.

Pedley summed up the menu as “a New York steakhouse bistro vibe meets French influence”. The main dining room will seat 90, with another 24 outdoors.

Tucked away at the rear, a private dining room offers a more exclusive option. It seats 32 or fits 50 standing, making it perfect for corporate functions, community gatherings or intimate celebrations.

Pedley said bookings were already rolling in, with groups eager to secure the tucked-away room.

On the left, the Hamilton Hotel public bar takes a different approach: relaxed, loud when it needs to be, and built for good times.

Artist impression of Hamilton Hotel public bar.

Seating 72 indoors with space for more standing and 32 outdoors, it’s pitched as Hamilton’s new pub for casual drinking and dining. Guests can expect rugby on screens, live music and a drinks list heavy on familiar beers.

Above Hamilton Hotel, Birdman will provide a quieter, more refined space — a 35-seat cocktail bar with low lighting, lounge chairs, a hi-fi sound system, and a menu of premium cocktails.

Hudson said it will feel “a bit more premium” than Wonder Horse, and “real cozy” despite its tall ceilings. He compared the concept to Auckland’s Caretaker or Wellington’s Hawthorn Lounge.

Hudson called it the perfect stop for a pre-show cocktail or a post-gig nightcap.

Downstairs, Four Daughters will take a lighter approach. The deli will serve simple, comforting food — sandwiches, sweets and “other yum bits” — with late-night hours designed to catch both theatre audiences and locals.

Artist impressions of the Hamilton Hotel Bistro.

The name is personal: between them, Pedley, Hudson and Moughan have four daughters.

And then there’s Wonder Horse, Hamilton’s famous cocktail bar. After 13 years in its original home, it is being reborn within the theatre precinct.

Hudson admitted the move was bittersweet — the old building was crumbling, but the bar itself deserved new life.

The new Wonder Horse will feel hidden, tucked away with curtained entrances and a refitted version of the original bar top anchoring the space.

“It’ll be hidden again,” Hudson said, “re-discoverable.”

For the operators, the scale of the project goes beyond bricks, tiles and bar tops. Collectively, they expect to hire about 80 new staff across the five venues, adding to the 110 already employed in their existing outlets.

Hudson said this wasn’t just about opening doors, but about building a stronger hospitality culture in Hamilton.

“We don’t think it’s competition,” he explained.

The private dining area inside the Hamilton Hotel Bistro.

“The city has gone through lots of changes in the last 20 years — financial crises, pandemics — and you see swells of diversity and competition. Even when some operators aren’t doing a great job, those differences make the city feel vibrant.”

He added that the city had lost too many venues in recent years, leaving the offering “really tight.”

The solution, he said, was broader choice: “The excitement of going out is diminished if there’s only a couple of places to go, even if we are perpetually busy. Competition is good from a customer’s perspective.”

Hiring another 80 staff, Hudson said, was also about creating opportunities. “It helps build a hospitality community we can encourage, educate and give service to. If people view coming out in Hamilton as something to be really proud of, then we win anyway.”

The regional theatre itself will officially open early next year, but the hospitality offerings are due to begin trading from mid-November. While Live Nation will manage drinks service inside the performance space, the five new venues are set to shape the entire precinct experience — from the first glass of wine to the last late-night sandwich.

“It’s us investing in the CBD and in Hamilton, not just opening another thing,” Pedley said.

Seating layout of Hamilton Hotel Bistro.