Important status note: The Cuban at 236 St Asaph Street, Christchurch, is no longer operating under that name. As of 16 September 2026, public listings identify the Christchurch venue as closed or permanently closed, while current listings using “The Cuban” in Canterbury refer to a different venue in Canterbury, Kent, England. The information below is therefore a carefully sourced historical guide to the Christchurch venue rather than a current ticket-buying guide.
Events and Programming
The Cuban was a Havana-themed bar, restaurant and flexible event venue in Christchurch’s central city. Its programming sat between nightlife, casual dining and private functions rather than formal theatre or concert-hall presentation. Public descriptions and contemporary Christchurch nightlife coverage associate it with Latin-inspired evenings, salsa and dance music, DJs, live entertainment, themed parties and occasional touring acts.
The most clearly documented Christchurch events from the later years include Mr Tee’s 2023 Christchurch tour date, a late-night R18 hip-hop event featuring Samoan artist Mr Tee; the Clubkingz and Afrocentric New Year’s Eve party on 31 December 2023; Clubkingz’s 20th Anniversary party on 30 March 2024; and Bollywood Addiction, a Bollywood dance event held on 4 May 2024. These notices show that the venue’s booking mix extended beyond Cuban or Latin music into hip-hop, R&B, Afrobeats, Amapiano, Pacific music and South Asian dance culture.
The Clubkingz New Year’s Eve notice advertised hip-hop, R&B, Afrobeats and Amapiano, with music from DJ 10A, DJ Infared and DJ Toa the Twin. The documented pricing was NZ$10 for early-bird admission, NZ$15 for general admission and NZ$20 for limited door sales. Clubkingz’s 20th Anniversary event was described as a celebration of a Christchurch DJ collective with longstanding links to Canterbury’s hip-hop and R&B scene.
Earlier records also identify touring comedy and entertainment bookings, including Lewis Spears and The Big Lez Show in 2017. Those shows are outside the requested 2021–2026 period, but they help explain the venue’s broader identity: The Cuban was used for club nights and social events as well as food-led hospitality. ticketfairy.com
There is no reliable, verified Christchurch event programme for 2025 or 2026, and no confirmed announcement for a reopening or future Christchurch season. Event pages appearing under the same name in 2026 are associated with the Kent venue, not 236 St Asaph Street. The safest conclusion is that there are no current Christchurch tickets to buy under the former venue name.
Tickets and Booking
When The Cuban operated as an event venue, tickets were generally sold on an event-by-event basis by promoters rather than through a permanent box office. Pricing depended on the promoter, night and release stage. The documented examples range from NZ$10 early-bird admission to NZ$20 at the door for the 2023 New Year’s Eve party. Some events were R18 and required valid photo identification.
Popular nights used staged releases, early-entry conditions or limited door sales. The New Year’s Eve notice warned that door places were limited, while the Mr Tee event specified an R18 entry requirement and a dress-code condition. These are event-specific rules rather than evidence of a universal policy for every night at The Cuban.
Private functions were handled separately. The venue-hire listing described tailored bookings with options for exclusive or partially exclusive use, seated dining, casual food and drinks, and live entertainment available on request for an additional charge. The published hire price was listed as “price on application”, so no dependable standard venue-hire rate can be given.
Because the Christchurch premises are closed, old ticket pages, menus and business listings should not be treated as invitations to attend. In particular, a current event carrying the name “The Cuban” may relate to Canterbury, Kent, rather than Christchurch.
About The Cuban
The Cuban occupied 236 St Asaph Street in Christchurch Central City. The earliest firm public record located is a Christchurch District Licensing Committee decision from May 2015 granting an on-licence application by The Havana Hospitality Company Limited. The premises were classified as a tavern. This establishes that The Cuban was trading, or at least formally preparing to trade, by 2015, although a precise opening date has not been verified.
The venue was part of the St Asaph Street and South Frame area, now often associated with the SALT District. The building itself dated from the 1960s and had previously been used as a car sales yard. A 2023 property description identified a 680-square-metre site, a 438-square-metre gross floor area including outdoor and amenity areas, a 24-metre St Asaph Street frontage and rear access from Welles Street. Those figures describe the property as marketed, not a confirmed public event capacity.
The venue’s identity came from combining a Cuban-inspired visual theme with a contemporary Christchurch bar layout. It offered Latin American food and cocktails, a full bar, casual dining and space for music-led events. The concept was distinctive in a city nightlife market otherwise dominated by general-purpose bars, student venues and larger entertainment facilities.
Seating and Layout
The published function-hire material described approximately 200 square metres of event space and a general booking range of 1–150 people. It divided the venue into three practical areas: a main bar for 50–150 people, a full patio for 60–150 people and a part patio for 20–50 people. These were flexible function capacities rather than a single certified concert capacity.
Seating combined low dining-style tables and chairs with high leaner tables and stools. That arrangement suited casual meals and drinks during quieter periods, while allowing furniture to be rearranged for standing events, dancing or private functions. Each listed area had access to a bar and nearby bathrooms.
The main bar would have been the most suitable area for a seated meal or conversation. The patio was the more useful choice for larger groups, informal mingling and function layouts. During music-led events, sightlines and comfort would have depended on the specific furniture plan, crowd density and whether the event used a central performance or DJ position. No official seating chart, tiered seating plan or fixed VIP section has been located.
No authoritative source publishes exact room dimensions, stage dimensions, sightline diagrams, balcony information or a formal maximum concert capacity. The often-repeated figure of 150 people should therefore be understood as the published function-space range, not as a guaranteed standing-room capacity for every event.
Architecture, Design and Technical Facilities
The building was a 1960s commercial property adapted into a character bar and restaurant, with covered outdoor areas and separate toilet facilities. Its main architectural interest came from the contrast between the older building shell and the Havana-themed hospitality fit-out rather than from a formally protected heritage design.
A notable exterior feature was a mural by the artist Dream It on the side of The Cuban. Christchurch City Council’s cultural archive records the mural at 236 St Asaph Street and dates the work to May 2016. It gave the venue a visible piece of local street art as well as a Cuban-themed identity.
The venue-hire listing confirms air conditioning, Wi-Fi, televisions, catering, bars, bathrooms and an installed sound system. It does not identify the manufacturer or model of the speakers, mixing console, microphones, DJ equipment, amplifiers or control system. No verified inventory has been found for stage lighting, moving lights, rigging points, video projection, backstage rooms, power distribution or production crew.
For a small DJ, party or private function, the in-house sound system would have provided a useful base. A touring band, theatrical act or technically demanding presentation would have needed to confirm equipment, input lists, lighting, power, load-in and noise arrangements directly with management. Since the venue has closed, those capabilities should be treated as historical only.
Getting There and Parking
The former venue address was 236 St Asaph Street, Christchurch Central City, Canterbury 8011. It sat between Colombo Street and Manchester Street, with rear access in the wider property area from Welles Street.
Christchurch’s central city has metered on-street parking and private car parks. The City Council’s current published on-street rate is NZ$5 per hour, subject to the displayed time limit and operating hours. A nearby private car park on the St Asaph Street and Antigua Street block has published casual rates from NZ$3.50 per half-hour, with separate evening, weekend and early-bird pricing. Rates and restrictions can change, and these facilities are not operated by The Cuban.
Night-time taxi arrangements were an important feature of the St Asaph Street street design. Council documents identify a taxi stand operating from 10pm to 6am near the 236–244 St Asaph Street section. This was useful for late-night hospitality traffic, but it should not be confused with a venue-operated drop-off or dedicated customer car park.
The nearest useful public-transport reference point was the St Asaph Street near Colombo Street stop. Current route information identifies services including routes 1, 3, 5, 7, 28, 60 and 80 in the surrounding area, with the Bus Interchange only a short walk from the stop. From the Bus Interchange, the straightforward walking route was south along Colombo Street, then east along St Asaph Street towards the former number 236 frontage.
Christchurch is compact around the central city, so walking or cycling was practical from nearby hotels, restaurants and the Bus Interchange. The exact condition of the former entrance, footpath and accessible kerb route should not be assumed for any future tenant at the address.
Inside the Venue
At its peak, The Cuban operated as a bar-restaurant hybrid rather than a conventional seated performance venue. Guests could expect casual tables, high leaners, a bar-led atmosphere, Latin-inspired food and cocktails, and a layout that could become much louder and busier during late-night events. The published facilities included air conditioning, Wi-Fi, televisions, bars and bathrooms.
Food records describe small plates and tapas-style dishes including croquettes, prawns, Cuban sausage, spiced wedges, Cuban hash, jalapeño cheese dip, fries, sautéed mushrooms and a pressed Cubano sandwich. The menu also included Mexican or Tex-Mex-style items, particularly during the Flying Burrito Brothers operation that shared the site.
Drinks were central to the concept. Historical descriptions mention mojitos, daiquiris, rum-based drinks, local beer and a house-associated “Cuba Laga” lager. The food and beverage offering was casual and social, designed for sharing and pre-event or late-night dining rather than formal service.
No reliable published information confirms a coat check, merchandise counter, dedicated box office, charging points, cloakroom, backstage area or event-specific bag policy. Personal photography rules, door procedures and re-entry conditions would have varied by promoter and should not be inferred from general nightlife practice.
Nearby Amenities
When The Cuban was trading, its location placed it in a mixed central-city area of bars, restaurants, cafés, offices and hospitality businesses. The wider SALT District was marketed as a lively inner-city precinct, and the property’s proximity to Welles Street, Colombo Street and the central city made it suitable for combining dinner, drinks and a late-night event.
Nearby central-city choices included casual dining, cocktail bars, cafés, hotels and late-night venues, although individual businesses and opening hours have changed since The Cuban closed. Visitors planning a future event at the address should check the current tenant mix rather than relying on old recommendations associated with The Cuban.
For a historical event night, arriving 30–45 minutes before the advertised start would have allowed time for parking, identification checks, ticket scanning and food or drinks. For a popular late-night party, earlier arrival was especially sensible because the venue’s function capacity was modest compared with a large arena or theatre.
What Made This Venue Special
The Cuban’s strongest feature was its combination of place, theme and flexibility. It offered a slice of Havana in a post-earthquake Christchurch commercial district, but its programme was not limited to strictly Cuban entertainment. The venue could host salsa-flavoured nights, DJs, touring acts, Pacific hip-hop, Bollywood parties, private celebrations and food-led gatherings within the same adaptable footprint.
The venue also reflected the multicultural character of contemporary Christchurch nightlife. Verified event notices show audiences arriving for Samoan hip-hop, Christchurch DJ culture, Afrobeats, Amapiano and Bollywood dance as well as Latin-inspired hospitality. That mixture made The Cuban more of a social platform than a specialist music room.
The Dream It mural added a local artistic element to the otherwise imported Havana theme. The 1960s building, covered outdoor areas and dual bar-and-restaurant use gave the venue a recognisable physical identity within the St Asaph Street strip.
Visitor Experiences and Reviews
Historical review scores were mixed but generally show that the venue made an impression. One review aggregator recorded approximately 4.1 out of 5 from Google reviews and 3.8 out of 5 from 194 traveller reviews. Positive comments highlighted friendly or attentive staff, interesting décor, a welcoming atmosphere, music that encouraged dancing and a convenient central location.
Criticism focused on inconsistency. Some visitors felt the food was overpriced or not authentically Cuban, describing it as closer to Mexican or Tex-Mex cooking. Others complained when advertised live music did not match expectations, particularly on New Year’s Eve, or when service was affected by staffing pressures. These reviews are individual experiences, not a definitive assessment of every visit.
Visitor Tips and Information
New Zealand does not use the United States ADA framework, and no official accessibility statement or detailed access audit for The Cuban has been located. Historical directory information described the premises as wheelchair accessible, but it does not independently confirm doorway widths, accessible toilet specifications, kerb-free entry, seating clearance or access to every event configuration. Those details should be treated as unverified.
The alcohol licence required responsible service conditions, including the availability of food, low- and non-alcoholic drinks, transport information, a manager on duty and compliance with one-way-door requirements. The licensed area was subject to the approved premises plan, and the whole premises was designated as a supervised area from 9pm to 3am under the 2015 licence decision.
Event-specific rules could be stricter. The Mr Tee notice stated that the event was R18 and that a dress code applied. The New Year’s Eve notice stated that tickets were non-refundable and that door entry was limited. These conditions belonged to the individual events and should not be presented as a permanent venue-wide policy.
There is no verified current dress code, bag policy, photography policy, coat-check policy or age policy for the closed Christchurch venue. If the premises reopens under a new operator, those rules would need to be re-established by the new business rather than copied from historical event notices.
History and Community Impact
The Cuban’s documented history begins no later than 2015, when the Havana Hospitality Company applied for an on-licence at 236 St Asaph Street. By 2016, the building carried the Dream It mural recorded in the Christchurch cultural archive. In 2022, licensing records identified the operation as “The Cuban/The Flying Burrito Brothers” under Spice Box Restaurants, confirming the venue’s combined bar, restaurant and pop-up model.
In 2023, the property was marketed as a hospitality investment with The Cuban and Flying Burrito Brothers operating from a 1960s building. The property description emphasised the area’s combination of bars, cafés, offices and future development potential near the emerging Te Kaha precinct.
The venue’s community contribution is best understood through its role in the local night-time economy rather than through a published economic-impact study. It provided hospitality work, function space, food service and a home for locally connected promoters and cultural events. The Clubkingz anniversary booking is especially significant because it presented a Christchurch DJ collective with deep Canterbury links in a venue capable of accommodating a few hundred people for a major celebration.
No verified study quantifies The Cuban’s employment, visitor spending, cultural reach or contribution to Christchurch’s gross regional product. Claims beyond its documented role as a central-city hospitality and events business would therefore be speculative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Cuban in Christchurch still open?
No. The former venue at 236 St Asaph Street is listed as closed or permanently closed in current public business directories. There is no verified Christchurch event programme for 2026. Be careful when searching because a different venue called The Cuban operates in Canterbury, Kent, England, and its events are unrelated to Christchurch.
Where was The Cuban Christchurch located?
The venue was at 236 St Asaph Street in Christchurch Central City, Canterbury 8011. The site was in the South Frame and SALT District area, near Colombo Street and Manchester Street, with rear access in the wider property from Welles Street. It was close to central-city restaurants, bars, offices and public-transport routes.
What events were held at The Cuban?
Programming included Latin-inspired nights, DJs, live entertainment, themed parties, private functions and touring acts. Later verified events included Mr Tee’s 2023 Christchurch show, Clubkingz and Afrocentric New Year’s Eve, Clubkingz’s 20th Anniversary party and Bollywood Addiction in May 2024. These bookings show a broad nightlife programme rather than a strictly Cuban music policy.
Did The Cuban host live music?
Yes, historical descriptions identify live entertainment as part of the venue’s offer, and Christchurch nightlife coverage referred to live music and special events there. However, the venue also used DJs and recorded music, and reviews show that advertised entertainment could vary by night. It was better understood as a flexible bar and events venue than as a dedicated live-music room.
How much did tickets cost?
Prices varied by promoter and event. A documented New Year’s Eve party charged NZ$10 for early-bird entry, NZ$15 for general admission and NZ$20 for limited door sales. Other events used their own pricing and conditions. No current ticket prices exist for the former Christchurch venue because it is closed and has no verified 2026 programme.
Was there a box office at The Cuban?
No permanent public box office has been verified. Historical tickets were promoted by individual event organisers, with some events offering limited door sales. Entry conditions, release stages, refunds and last-entry times therefore depended on the promoter. Since the Christchurch venue has closed, old ticket pages should not be treated as current sales channels or proof of future events.
What was the venue’s capacity?
The published function listing described approximately 200 square metres of event space and a general range of 1–150 people. It gave a main-bar range of 50–150, a full-patio range of 60–150 and a part-patio range of 20–50. These were flexible function figures, not a single certified maximum for every standing event.
Did The Cuban have outdoor seating?
Yes. The function-hire information identified a full patio and part-patio option, with seating and leaner tables available in the different areas. The covered outdoor space could be included in private functions or used as part of the bar’s normal layout. No current information confirms what remains at the address after the venue’s closure.
Was The Cuban wheelchair accessible?
Historical directory information marked The Cuban as wheelchair accessible, but no official access audit has been found. Exact details such as step-free entry, accessible toilet dimensions, door widths, seating clearance and access during crowded events are not independently confirmed. The venue is now closed, so any future operator at 236 St Asaph Street would need to publish its own access information.
Was The Cuban an indoor or outdoor venue?
It was primarily an indoor bar and restaurant with covered outdoor areas. The function listing described a main bar, full patio and part patio, allowing events to use one area or combine several. The property description also refers to character bar and restaurant space, covered outdoor areas and separate toilets.
Where could visitors park?
Visitors historically relied on central-city metered parking, nearby private car parks and street-based taxi facilities. The current Council on-street rate is published as NZ$5 per hour, while a nearby private car park has advertised casual rates from NZ$3.50 per half-hour. Restrictions and prices can change, and none of these facilities was operated by The Cuban.
What was the closest public transport?
The St Asaph Street near Colombo Street stop was the most useful nearby bus stop. Current route information lists several services in the area, including routes 1, 3, 5, 7, 28, 60 and 80. The Bus Interchange is close to that stop, making the former venue reachable by bus followed by a short walk east along St Asaph Street.
What food did The Cuban serve?
The menu combined Cuban-themed and broader Latin American or Tex-Mex dishes. Historical listings mention croquettes, prawns, Cuban sausage, spiced wedges, Cuban hash, jalapeño cheese dip, sautéed mushrooms, fries and a pressed Cubano sandwich. The shared Flying Burrito Brothers operation added Mexican-style food, so the menu was broader than traditional Cuban cuisine alone.
What drinks was The Cuban known for?
The venue’s concept centred on cocktails and rum-led drinks, including mojitos and daiquiris. Historical descriptions also mention rum punches, local beer and the associated Cuba Laga lager. The bar was part of the venue’s identity, with food, drinks and music designed to work together rather than operate as separate restaurant and concert experiences.
Did The Cuban have a strict age restriction?
Age rules varied by event. The Mr Tee tour notice clearly stated that its Christchurch show was R18 and required valid identification. The alcohol licence also placed the premises under supervised-area conditions during late-night hours. Those facts do not prove that every historical booking had identical entry rules, so event notices were the appropriate source for age requirements.
Was there a dress code?
Some individual events imposed dress requirements. The Mr Tee event notice stated that a dress code applied, but no permanent venue-wide dress code has been verified for The Cuban Christchurch. The safest historical approach for late-night events was neat nightlife clothing, while recognising that the actual rule depended on the promoter and the specific booking.
What made The Cuban different from other Christchurch bars?
Its distinction came from the combination of a Havana-inspired identity, Latin-style food and cocktails, flexible event space, covered patio areas and a central-city location. It also welcomed programming from outside the Cuban theme, including Christchurch hip-hop, Pacific music, Afrobeats, Amapiano and Bollywood dance. A local Dream It mural added another layer of Christchurch identity.
When did The Cuban open?
A precise opening date has not been verified. The earliest firm public record located is the May 2015 licensing decision for The Havana Hospitality Company at 236 St Asaph Street, known as The Cuban. The venue was therefore established by 2015, but claims of an earlier opening year should be treated cautiously unless supported by additional records.
Was The Cuban part of the Flying Burrito Brothers venue?
Yes. Licensing records from 2022 identify the premises as “The Cuban/The Flying Burrito Brothers”, and a 2023 property description says the two hospitality offerings occupied the same site. This arrangement combined The Cuban’s bar and event identity with Mexican-style food from the pop-up restaurant. It was an important part of the venue’s later operating model.
Are 2026 events listed for The Cuban Christchurch?
No verified 2026 Christchurch events were located. Several 2026 search results use the name The Cuban, but those listings identify Canterbury, Kent, England, not Christchurch, New Zealand. The Christchurch venue is listed as closed, and no confirmed reopening, new operator or future programme at 236 St Asaph Street has been found.
