NZ Bar Convent - more details to come

Announced for 4 - 6th August, 2024

Late last week, Andrea Marseglia and Sarah Mitchell announced their intention to bring NZ Bar Convent to life in August, 2024.

“We have been back in NZ for almost six years now. For the past six years, we have been discussing & debating whether an NZ Bar event would be beneficial for the industry. How fantastic and inspiring are the Bar Weeks/Convents overseas!? Why don’t we have one in NZ? Would it even work here?

This year is the year we are throwing caution to the wind and giving it a go!
We believe there are enough people in this country that have the same drive and excitement about hospitality in NZ.

We want this to be an opportunity for the bar industry to get inspired & learn. For suppliers, of all sizes, to meet their customers face-to-face. AND for the industry to come together and celebrate how incredible hospitality is in NZ.”

The social media post had my attention and the attention of others, so I reached out immediately to those in the know and Andrea himself. There’s a core team who ruminated on the idea at Sydney Bar Week last year and a rally cry amongst a few bartenders, who were quick to show support online and to Andrea and Sarah.

So now the heavy lifting to bring an inspirational and unifying trade event for industry to life, with a singular purpose. Elevate and inspire the industry first, then embed brand activity. This will feel refreshing, reinvigorating and hopefully rejuvenating for the industry.

More details to come.

That’s the headline that curious and supportive, courageous minds are paying attention to. We understand the venue Brad’s Warehouse is booked for the dates, while the hunt is now on to secure a programme of seminars, trade tastings and activations. This is the crucial period for brands to quickly swoop in with support with the opportunity to own the space — but also the requirement that without that support, the event may not happen.

Do we want it? Absolutely.

The opportunity to secure a community driven initiative appeals to the underdog in all of us and it’s worth noting — they’ll beat a rumoured SpiritsNZ / big liquor plan to launch NZ Bar Week in 2026.

Stay tuned for updates as they are available. And be sure to DM if you’re a brand that wants to be connected to the organisers.