Events and Programming
Current ticket status: the latest verifiable New Regent Street Long Lunch was held on Friday 26 November 2021. The organiser’s public event archive also shows Long Lunch events in Queenstown and Te Anau during 2022, but no confirmed New Regent Street edition in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 or 2026. No New Regent Street Long Lunch date or future programme has been publicly confirmed in the material available up to 17 September 2026.
The event is best understood as a temporary outdoor dining experience rather than a permanent concert or theatre venue. Its central programme is a communal lunch prepared by restaurants on New Regent Street, with diners choosing a participating restaurant or menu before arriving. The 2021 edition included entrée and main-course choices, dessert options, drinks available for purchase, a silent auction and fundraising for I Am Hope. Guests were asked to arrive between midday and 1pm, with auction winners announced at approximately 3.30pm.
A recorded event-production schedule lists the November 2021 lunch at approximately 130 guests. That figure is useful as an indication of the event’s operating scale, but it is not a published permanent capacity for New Regent Street or a guaranteed capacity for any future edition.
There is no verified New Regent Street Long Lunch artist list from 2021–2026. Public event information emphasises food, hospitality, sponsors, charity fundraising and the silent auction rather than a headline concert. Archived third-party descriptions refer generally to background music or street entertainment, but do not identify confirmed performers, bands, DJs or production acts. It would be misleading to present the event as a regular live-music booking. ticketfairy.com
The wider street does host other cultural programming. In 2026, the New Regent Street Pop-up Festival formed part of the WORD Christchurch programme, using cafés, bars and shops for readings, launches, talks, games and interactive literary events involving more than 50 local and visiting writers. Open Christchurch also included New Regent Street in its May 2026 architecture programme. These events belong to the street’s wider cultural life, not to the Long Lunch brand.
Tickets and Booking
There are no verified 2026 Long Lunch tickets currently documented. If the event returns, the established model is advance online booking, with diners selecting a restaurant or menu before the day. Archived ticket information indicates that there was no ordinary walk-up box office and that popular sections were expected to be booked ahead. Because no current event has been announced, there is no reliable present-day presale date, door price or booking deadline to report. ticketfairy.com
Historic pricing varied by participating restaurant and menu. Published 2021–22 material shows principal menu prices around NZ$59 to NZ$80 per person, while archived event listings place several complete 2021 options at approximately NZ$65–$86 per person. A two-person option was also advertised at NZ$130. These are historical figures only and should not be treated as current ticket prices.
Tickets covered the selected food experience; alcoholic drinks were extra. The 2021 event had a special licence for the sale and supply of alcohol, and the organiser specifically stated that BYO was not permitted. The published material does not establish a permanent policy for a future edition, so any returning event should be checked against its own conditions before purchase.
The safest strategy for a future edition would be to book early, keep the group on one transaction where possible, and decide on dietary requirements before paying. The event’s format depends on participating restaurants preparing fixed or semi-fixed menus, so late menu changes may be more difficult than at a normal restaurant service.
About New Regent Street Long Lunch
New Regent Street Long Lunch is an outdoor, street-based dining event staged on New Regent Street in central Ōtautahi Christchurch. It uses the entire heritage setting as its backdrop rather than occupying one enclosed room. Long tables are placed along the pedestrian street, while participating restaurants provide food and the surrounding businesses contribute to the atmosphere.
The setting is unusually significant. New Regent Street is a two-storey Spanish Mission-style terrace of 40 specialist shops running between Gloucester Street and Armagh Street. The street is listed as a Category I historic place, and the wider area is recognised as a historic area because of its coherent design, visual unity and importance in Christchurch’s retail history.
New Regent Street was designed by Christchurch architect Henry Francis Willis and built between 1930 and 1932 during the Depression. It opened on 1 April 1932. The project was an early example of a planned shopping complex made up of small specialist shops, making it a forerunner to the modern shopping mall. Only three of the 40 shops were initially leased, so the development company offered rent-free occupation and then nominal rents to help businesses establish themselves.
The site had an earlier entertainment history. The Colosseum, erected in 1888, occupied the location before New Regent Street and was used at different times as a skating rink, boot factory, taxi rank and picture theatre. Its demolition in 1929 cleared the way for the Spanish Mission development.
Seating and Layout
The Long Lunch layout is communal rather than theatre-style. Archived descriptions show one large run of tables arranged down the street, with diners seated beside one another and grouped according to the participating restaurant or menu. The event is therefore closer to a long shared banquet than a restaurant with separate rooms or a performance space with rows of seats. ticketfairy.com
The available event record indicates a scale of about 130 diners in 2021. No authoritative plan has been published showing the exact number of tables, table lengths, chair widths, service aisles, accessible positions, VIP sections or raised viewing areas. There is also no confirmed stage layout. Visitors should not assume that a future edition will have a separate premium zone or a choice of individual seats.
The street itself is approximately 100 metres long and about 12 metres wide, with two parallel rows of heritage shopfronts. Those dimensions explain why the event feels intimate despite occupying a public street: the buildings create a narrow, visually enclosed corridor, while the central tram and pedestrian route provide the event’s main axis.
Acoustically, this is an open-air dining environment. Conversation, restaurant service and movement along the street are likely to be more important than precise music listening. The hard façades may reflect sound, but no acoustic report or seating-specific sound study has been published. There is no evidence of a permanent auditorium-style sound treatment.
Architecture, Production and Technical Facilities
New Regent Street’s visual character comes from repeated Spanish Mission details: shaped gables, pastel colour blocks, arched windows, medallions, tiled window hoods, awnings and barley-twist columns. The repetition gives the street the appearance of a single designed place rather than unrelated buildings assembled over time. Upper-storey façades remain comparatively intact, although many ground-floor interiors and shopfronts have been altered.
The Canterbury earthquakes damaged the street, but the terrace was restored and reopened in 2013. The restoration was recognised with a New Zealand Institute of Architects Canterbury Sustainable Architecture Award. The street is regarded as an important surviving heritage streetscape and a visible symbol of Christchurch’s post-earthquake recovery.
No public technical rider has been found for the Long Lunch. There are no verified specifications for a PA system, microphones, stage dimensions, lighting fixtures, generator capacity, power distribution, rigging points, production office, backstage area or weatherproof performance infrastructure. The street historically had a lighting system of approximately 400 lamps, but that historical detail should not be confused with modern event lighting capability.
For production planning, the important distinction is that this is a heritage pedestrian street temporarily converted into a dining site. Any future sound, lighting, power, furniture or temporary-structure arrangements would need to be event-specific and compatible with pedestrian access, tram operations, heritage protection and council approvals.
Getting There and Parking
New Regent Street runs between Gloucester Street and Armagh Street in the central city. It is close to Cathedral Square, the central library, the performing arts precinct and Cathedral Junction. The street itself is a pedestrian mall; trams and authorised service access are treated differently from ordinary vehicle access.
By bus, use the central-city network and plan for a stop near Manchester Street or the Bus Interchange. Current city routes include services such as 1, 3, 5, 7 and 29 through the central city, with Manchester Street Super Stop and the Bus Interchange serving as useful arrival points. From Manchester Street, walk towards Gloucester Street and enter New Regent Street from the northern end. Check the timetable on the day because routes and stop arrangements can change.
The heritage tram is a distinctive way to reach the area when its current route is operating. New Regent Street is part of the central-city tram network, although service patterns, operating hours and stopping arrangements vary. A tram ticket is separate from any Long Lunch ticket and would not normally provide event entry.
Drivers should expect paid parking around the central city rather than parking inside the street. The council’s 2026–27 fee schedule lists Lichfield Street car park at NZ$4.80 per hour between 6am and 6pm, with a NZ$17 all-day rate. The Art Gallery car park is listed at NZ$2.40 per half-hour, with a maximum daily charge of NZ$25. Rates and time limits can change.
A 61-space car park opened in the Performing Arts Precinct in January 2026, including five accessible spaces and special night rates for some precinct events. It may be useful for visitors, but its capacity and event-day availability should not be assumed for a future Long Lunch. Rideshare and taxi passengers should use a legal kerbside set-down point on Gloucester or Armagh Street rather than requesting access into the pedestrian mall.
Inside the Event
There is no conventional “inside” at the Long Lunch: the event takes place outdoors on the street. Archived information describes arrival and check-in between noon and 1pm, followed by seated food service from the selected restaurant. Umbrellas and free water were provided for the 2021 edition because midday sun could be strong. Sunscreen, a hat and comfortable summer clothing were specifically recommended.
Food is served at the communal tables rather than collected from a food court. Drinks were available separately, including wine, beer and sparkling wine from event sponsors. Chard Farm, Emerson’s Brewery and Gibbston Valley Wines were named as 2021 sponsors. Those brands and products should be regarded as historical examples, not guaranteed suppliers for a future event.
The published event information does not confirm a coat check, merchandise stall, dedicated event toilets, charging points, guest Wi-Fi, bag-size limits or a permanent security procedure. Those details would need to be published for any new edition. The street’s normal businesses provide cafés, bars, restaurants and shops, but their opening arrangements may change when the road is reserved for a special event.
Accessibility and Inclusive Facilities
The outdoor event footprint is more straightforward for mobility access than many heritage interiors because the tables are placed at street level on a paved pedestrian street. Available descriptions characterise New Regent Street as essentially flat and indicate that the dining tables are positioned at street level. That supports a reasonable expectation of access to the outdoor area, but it is not a substitute for an event-specific accessibility plan. ticketfairy.com
No published plan confirms the location of accessible tables, turning spaces, accessible toilets, hearing assistance, captioning, quiet areas or step-free access into every participating restaurant. Several premises occupy heritage buildings with individually altered interiors, so a street-level event does not automatically mean that every adjoining restaurant or facility is step-free.
“ADA compliance” is not the applicable legal term in New Zealand. The relevant requirements arise through New Zealand building, accessibility and event-safety rules. Because no current Long Lunch accessibility statement has been located, guests who require a specific seating position, toilet arrangement or assistance should obtain confirmation before buying a future ticket.
Nearby Amenities
New Regent Street is surrounded by hospitality rather than isolated from it. Current listings identify restaurants and bars including Story, Twenty Seven Steps, The Nook, Gin Gin, Downstairs, The Last Word and Rollickin Gelato, alongside cafés and casual food businesses. These are useful for a pre-event coffee, post-lunch drink or alternative dining plan, although opening hours vary by day.
For accommodation, central-city options include Novotel Christchurch near Cathedral Square, Quest Cathedral Junction at the tram terminus, Distinction Christchurch Hotel, Crowne Plaza and Fable. The first two are particularly convenient for walking to New Regent Street, while several other central hotels are within the wider Cathedral Square and performing-arts precinct.
Allow time before the meal to find parking, walk from public transport and locate the event check-in point. After the lunch, the street is well placed for a walk towards Cathedral Square, the Avon River, the central library or the nearby theatres. Late-night travel is easiest when arranged before drinking; use a taxi, rideshare or a planned bus connection rather than relying on an unplanned final service.
What Makes This Event Special
The Long Lunch’s defining feature is the conversion of a nationally significant heritage streetscape into a shared dining room. Instead of placing guests in a hotel ballroom, it brings local restaurants, residents and visitors into the middle of one of Christchurch’s most recognisable public spaces.
That approach also connects the event with New Regent Street’s social history. The street was an ambitious Depression-era retail development, a precursor to the shopping mall and later a tram-linked pedestrian destination. Its restoration after the earthquakes made it one of the city’s strongest reminders of the pre-earthquake central city.
The community impact is clearest in the event’s stated purpose: promoting local restaurants and the street’s history while raising money for a selected charity or environmental project. The 2021 edition supported I Am Hope and used a silent auction as an additional fundraising mechanism. No audited economic-impact report or total fundraising figure has been found, so larger claims about visitor spend or employment should not be attributed to the event.
Visitor Tips and Information
For a future edition, choose your menu before arriving, arrive during the published check-in window and plan for direct sun, wind or a change in temperature. Sunscreen, a hat and a light layer are sensible for a midday outdoor meal. Wear shoes suitable for a paved pedestrian street, and avoid assuming that a restaurant’s normal indoor seating, toilets or entrance arrangements will apply to the temporary event.
Do not bring alcohol unless a future event expressly changes its conditions. The 2021 organiser stated that BYO was prohibited. Bring photo identification if the future event applies an age restriction, but note that the currently available official event material does not publish a fresh age policy for 2026.
There is no confirmed 2026 booking opportunity to plan around. Treat any undated or recycled ticket information cautiously, particularly because the public archive still displays older 2021–22 material. The most reliable future listing would need to state the date, participating restaurants, ticket inclusions, accessibility arrangements, weather policy and liquor conditions together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New Regent Street Long Lunch happening in 2026?
No 2026 New Regent Street Long Lunch date has been publicly verified up to 17 September 2026. The latest confirmed Christchurch edition in the available event archive was Friday 26 November 2021. The organiser’s later public material refers to other Long Lunch locations, so visitors should not assume that a 2026 Christchurch event is scheduled.
What was the latest confirmed New Regent Street Long Lunch?
The latest confirmed edition was held on Friday 26 November 2021. Guests arrived between midday and 1pm for a restaurant-led outdoor lunch in the pedestrian street. The programme included food, sponsored drinks, a silent auction and fundraising for I Am Hope. No later New Regent Street edition has been confirmed in the available archive.
Is New Regent Street Long Lunch a permanent venue?
No. It is a temporary outdoor event staged on New Regent Street, not a permanent room, theatre or concert venue. The street normally operates as a pedestrian heritage precinct containing independently occupied shops, restaurants, bars and cafés. Event infrastructure such as tables, umbrellas, service areas and any sound equipment is installed for the particular lunch.
How many people can attend?
A recorded event-production schedule lists approximately 130 guests for the November 2021 Long Lunch. That is the best documented attendance figure found, but it is not a formal maximum capacity. A future edition could use a different table plan, restaurant mix, safety layout or street footprint, so the final capacity would need to be stated in its event information.
How much did tickets cost?
Historic published prices varied by restaurant and menu. Main 2021–22 options were generally around NZ$59–$80 per person, while archived listings placed several complete 2021 choices around NZ$65–$86. A two-person option was listed at NZ$130. These figures are historical and cannot be used as a current 2026 price guide.
What did a ticket include?
Past tickets included the selected restaurant’s set or semi-set meal, with entrée, main and dessert choices varying by menu. Drinks were separate. The 2021 edition also provided access to the shared event setting, while free water and umbrellas were available. Inclusion of auction participation, drink packages or special extras would depend on the conditions of any future event.
Can I buy tickets at the door?
Archived event information indicated advance booking and no normal on-site box office. This makes sense for a meal-based event because participating restaurants need confirmed numbers and menu selections. There is no current event to confirm a 2026 door policy. If the lunch returns, assume advance booking is safer than relying on spare seats or walk-up availability.
Is the Long Lunch 18-plus?
One archived event listing described the 2021 Long Lunch as an 18-plus event, while the organiser’s own event material focused mainly on its special alcohol licence and no-BYO rule. Because the current age policy has not been published, families should not rely on the old listing. Check the conditions attached to any future edition before making arrangements.
Can I bring my own wine or beer?
No for the documented 2021 edition. The organiser stated that the event operated under a special licence for the sale and supply of alcohol and that BYO was not permitted. Drinks were available through the event arrangements. A future event would need to publish its own liquor rules, but outside alcohol should not be assumed to be acceptable.
What food was available?
The event brought together participating New Regent Street restaurants, allowing guests to choose between different menus rather than receiving one identical meal. Archived material names restaurants including 27 Steps, Gin Gin, The Nook, Story and other street food businesses. The exact restaurant line-up, dietary choices and portion sizes would need to be confirmed for any returning edition.
Are dietary requirements catered for?
The available material indicates that guests selected menus from individual restaurants, but it does not publish a complete dietary matrix for the event. Contact-free assumptions are risky because dishes are prepared by different kitchens. Guests with allergies, coeliac disease, vegetarian requirements or other needs should request confirmation before payment and ensure the requirement is recorded with the correct restaurant.
Is the event indoors or outdoors?
It is outdoors, with tables placed along New Regent Street. The 2021 organiser warned that the midday sun could be strong and said umbrellas and free water would be provided. No permanent indoor backup venue has been confirmed. Plan for Christchurch’s changeable conditions and rely only on a future published weather policy for cancellation or postponement information.
Is New Regent Street wheelchair accessible?
The outdoor street is paved, level and pedestrian-focused, and archived descriptions indicate that the dining tables were placed at street level. That makes the event footprint more accessible than an upstairs restaurant. However, there is no current plan confirming accessible table positions, toilet facilities, hearing support or step-free access into every participating business.
Are there accessible toilets at the Long Lunch?
No event-specific accessible-toilet arrangement has been verified. The public information found does not identify temporary facilities, a dedicated toilet block or which nearby premises provide step-free accessible toilets. Anyone who needs this information should request confirmation before booking. Do not assume that the heritage street’s accessible outdoor surface guarantees accessible amenities nearby.
Can I arrive by tram?
Yes, when the heritage tram is operating on a route that includes New Regent Street or nearby Cathedral Junction. The tram is part of the area’s distinctive transport and tourism setting, but it is a separate service from the Long Lunch. Check the operating route and timetable on the day, as seasonal services and stops can change.
Where should I park?
Use paid central-city parking around the precinct rather than trying to drive into New Regent Street. Current council options include Lichfield Street car park, the Art Gallery car park and the newer Performing Arts Precinct car park on Gloucester Street. Rates, time limits and event-day availability vary, so allow extra time and consider public transport if you plan to drink.
Is there a stage or live music?
No confirmed Long Lunch stage or artist programme has been found. The event’s documented focus is communal dining, restaurant showcases, sponsored beverages and fundraising. Some secondary descriptions refer generally to background entertainment, but they do not identify performers. The wider street hosts literary events and live music in individual businesses, which should not be confused with the Long Lunch programme.
What should I wear?
There is no verified formal dress code. Smart-casual summer clothing is practical, with comfortable shoes for a paved pedestrian street. A hat, sunscreen and sunglasses are sensible because the event is held around midday. Bring a light layer in case the temperature drops or wind moves through the street, and avoid clothing that is difficult to manage at communal tables.
What makes the location historically important?
New Regent Street was built between 1930 and 1932 as a unified Spanish Mission-style shopping development of 40 specialist shops. It was an early New Zealand example of a planned shopping complex and is now a Category I historic place and historic area. Its restoration after the Canterbury earthquakes strengthened its role as a symbol of Christchurch’s heritage and recovery.
Where can I go after the lunch?
The surrounding central city offers restaurants, cocktail bars, cafés, gelato shops, Cathedral Square, the Avon River, the central library and nearby theatres. Current New Regent Street listings include Story, Twenty Seven Steps, The Nook, Gin Gin, Downstairs, The Last Word and Rollickin Gelato. Book ahead for a post-event meal because popular small venues may fill quickly.
