Nick Inkster
Revitalizing Christchurch's Heritage Since 2015
Nick Inkster has been a key figure in bringing hospitality and heritage back to Christchurch since 2015, but his passion for hospitality started at a much younger age. He recalls throwing parties at home, bringing in kegs, setting up a mini bar, and even hiring live bands and jukeboxes. His parents were always supportive, and his father once told him he was a natural host and should open his own bar someday. These words proved to be prophetic.
Nick has never shied away from hard work. Early on, he and his twin brother set up a joint bank account and started saving for a house while both worked in the building sector—Nick as a carpenter and his brother as a plumber. They saved $100 per week until they had enough for a deposit, eventually purchasing their first home, or as Nick fondly calls it, their "beach shack" in South New Brighton for $150,000. This was where Nick's journey in hospitality truly began.
The brothers renovated the place, building a large deck perfect for hosting parties. Nick would charge $20 entry, hire DJs and live bands, and even invite the neighbours to keep the peace. He recalls heading to the Speight's Ale House on Bealy Ave on Fridays to pick up 12 kegs, with owners Andrew and Richard Norton letting him pay for them the following Monday—little did he know they would become his future business partners.
In 2009, Nick moved to Australia to work in the mining industry, seeking to earn a good salary. The work was grueling, with 12-hour shifts for four weeks straight, followed by just one week off. He persevered through this tough routine for eight years, but he invested his earnings wisely, setting the stage for future opportunities.
By September 2015, Nick was ready to return to Christchurch for good. That day, Nick recounts setting his alarm clock for work as he did each day, but this would be the last time he would set his alarm clock for an employer. He had secured the lease on the ground floor of the Old Government Building (OGB) and was about to fulfill his father's dream of opening a bar. Sadly, his father had passed away in 2013 from prostate cancer, but his encouragement to return home to Christchurch remained a guiding force.
Back in 2012, during one of his visits home, Nick had found himself sitting at the Civil & Naval bar in Lyttelton, the place where much of the concept for OGB Speak Easy began to take shape. He saw the potential for a live music venue with a speakeasy vibe, something that Christchurch sorely lacked, especially after the loss of so many of the city's heritage buildings. Nick's goal was clear: he wanted to help restore Christchurch’s cultural fabric by “pouring heritage back into the city.”
When OGB opened, the central city had only three major hospitality venues: The Casino, Baretta and Mama Hooch. Nick saw a void in the market and with Baretta and Mama Hooch being hot spots, patrons walked between both venues, right past what would be OGB. Nick also believed that one day, Cathedral Square would once again be the heart of Christchurch.
In 2020, he founded The Inkster Company and launched The Austin Club, a post WWII basement cocktail swing saloon bar & night club after midnight named after his old Austin car parked outside OGB. Around this time, he also formed a partnership with the Norton brothers, together purchasing the Fox & Ferret at The Palms—the first place Nick had legally enjoyed a drink with his father along with Civil & Naval in Lyttelton.
Outside of his business ventures, Nick is deeply committed to his community. As the manager of the Linwood Division One Rugby team, and a proud eastsider himself, Nick is passionate about supporting the local players. He recalls that many of the players worked Saturday mornings, making it tough to attend practice. Despite these challenges, the team fought their way up from the bottom of the table and, this season claimed the premier championship for the first time in 51 years.
Nick’s ventures didn't stop there. In recent years, Christchurch’s iconic Shand’s Emporium and Trinity Church buildings were nearly transformed into a cannabis museum. However, after the cannabis referendum failed, Cookie Time founder Michael Mayell pulled out, making way for Paddy McNaughton’s, which opened in 2022, followed by The Church in late 2023. The Church has successfully combined the atmosphere of a pub with that of a live music venue, hosting local acts like The Jordan Luck Band, Ladyhawke, Zed, and The Beths along with global acts like The Black Seeds.
Most recently, Nick and his partners purchased Finnegan’s Irish Bar in Prebbleton. They plan to restore its heritage by renaming it The Prebbleton Hotel. Reflecting on his journey, Nick believes it's better to own a share of several successful venues than to have 100% ownership of one!
Nick not being one to miss the opportunity for a plug tells me Restaurant O.G.B is opening later in the month too. A 48-seated restaurant down the hall from OGB. The fit-out is well underway and looking to open before cup week and will complete the O.G.B experience.
Nick Inkster’s commitment to bringing life back to Christchurch’s cultural and hospitality scene is undeniable. He continues to pour his heart—and heritage—into every project, helping reshape the city he calls home.
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