--- title: "39 Abel Smith Street Events | Wellington, Wellington | Ticket Fairy" description: "Browse upcoming and past events at 39 Abel Smith Street in Wellington, Wellington. Find dates, event details and tickets." canonical: "https://www.ticketfairy.com/events-in-wellington--wellington--nz/39-abel-smith-street" --- 1. [Ticket Fairy](https://www.ticketfairy.com/) 2. [Events](https://www.ticketfairy.com/events) 3. [Events in Wellington, Wellington](https://www.ticketfairy.com/events-in-wellington--wellington--nz) 4. 39 Abel Smith Street Events # Events at 39 Abel Smith Street Browse upcoming and past events at 39 Abel Smith Street in Wellington, Wellington. Find dates, event details and tickets. Search events... - [Events in Wellington, Wellington](https://www.ticketfairy.com/events-in-wellington--wellington--nz) - [Hotels near 39 Abel Smith Street](https://www.ticketfairy.com/events-in-wellington--wellington--nz/39-abel-smith-street/hotels) [![Pride Drag Brunch flyer](https://www.ticketfairy.com/uploaded/thumbnails/db_file_img_138892_300xauto.jpg)](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event/pride-drag-brunch) ### [Pride Drag Brunch](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event/pride-drag-brunch) 12:00 PM, Sat, 14 Mar Mar 14 39 Abel Smith Street Wellington ### ### Events and Programming 39 Abel Smith Street is best known as Southern Cross Garden Bar and Restaurant, a long-running Te Aro hospitality venue rather than a conventional concert hall. Its programme combines free live music, pub quizzes, bingo, family activities, social clubs, creative workshops, sporting screenings, charity events and private functions. The atmosphere changes considerably depending on the booking: a Friday music session may feel like a casual garden-bar gig, while a weekday quiz, science talk or community mixer uses the venue more as a neighbourhood meeting place. As at 17 September 2026, the recurring programme includes live music on selected Fridays from 6pm to 9pm, with rotating DJs, solo performers and bands. Published examples from the 2026 schedule include Pati, Southbound Drive, Jodie and the Stowaways, The Satisfactions and The Relatives. These sessions are promoted as free, with food, drinks and occasional house-pour offers available rather than a separate concert ticket. Tuesday nights are reserved for a weekly pub quiz beginning at 7pm. Teams can compete for Star Points, with published prizes of $100 for first place, $75 for second and $25 for third. Bookings are recommended because the quiz depends on table seating, particularly for larger teams. The venue also programmes Beats by Bingo on selected Thursdays, using songs rather than numbered balls, with free participation advertised for at least some sessions. The 2026 and early-2027 pattern shows that Southern Cross is also used for participatory and social events. Published listings include weekly board-game gatherings continuing into February 2027, painting workshops in September and October 2026, Latin dance events with beginner lessons, professional networking evenings, university science talks and engineering quiz nights. The venue’s function rooms support private celebrations, business events and community groups alongside its public programme. Recent programming from 2021 to 2025 demonstrates the breadth of the booking model. ShakesBeer in the Garden, an annual improvisational Shakespeare fundraiser, returned in 2021 with a beer-and-theatre format. The Free Store Festival has used the venue for music, food, raffles, a pub quiz and fundraising for food-security work. Other recent bookings have included ocean-conservation quizzes, LGBTQIA+ social mixers, climate and sustainability gatherings, monthly journal and sketch sessions, swing dancing, screen-industry functions and international film-related events. Ticket prices vary by event rather than following a standard venue scale. Free live music, quizzes, social mixers and some community gatherings are common. Historic and recent examples show charity performances around NZ$10–$20, professional creative workshops around NZ$50, and private or association events with their own registration prices. The live listing beside this guide is the most useful place to check whether a particular event requires a ticket, a registration or simply a table booking. ### Tickets and Booking For free live music and recurring pub activities, the usual process is to reserve a table or arrive early rather than purchase a general admission ticket. The weekly quiz specifically recommends bookings, and popular workshops or community events may require advance registration even when entry is free. A reservation is especially sensible if you want to eat before the event, are bringing a group, or need a particular area of the venue. Ticketed events use the booking system selected by the organiser. Prices, age rules, refunds and door times are event-specific, so visitors should read the individual listing carefully before paying. Paint-and-sip workshops, charity events and hosted classes may include a participation fee while food and drinks remain additional purchases. Private functions are normally arranged directly with the venue’s events team and may involve deposits, minimum food-and-beverage spends and final guest numbers. For popular quizzes, workshops and Friday sessions, the best strategy is to book as soon as the event appears, arrive before the advertised start time and avoid assuming that a free event has unlimited seating. The venue is a working restaurant and garden bar, so a confirmed event place may mean a table reservation rather than a guaranteed theatre-style seat. ### About 39 Abel Smith Street Southern Cross is a bar, restaurant, garden venue and function space at 39 Abel Smith Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011. The property sits just off the Cuba Street area and combines indoor dining rooms with a substantial outdoor garden-bar setting. It is used for everyday meals, drinks, family visits, live entertainment, private celebrations, business gatherings and community events. The venue’s exact opening year is not established in the publicly available material. Current venue descriptions variously describe Southern Cross as more than 100 years old and, in one visitor listing, as having served the area for more than 165 years. The safest historical conclusion is that it is a long-established Te Aro licensed venue, with documented operation by the early 2000s and earlier liquor-licensing records for Southern Cross Tavern at the address. Its more recent history is clearer. The venue underwent a significant repositioning during the late 2000s, moving away from its older working-men’s-bar image and towards a broader family, dining and community offer. The 2008 brand and interior work was developed with John Mills Architects and introduced a more colourful, welcoming identity. Later projects included a reworked function room, additional outdoor seating, guest-room remodelling and kitchen refurbishment. Southern Cross also has a place in local civic history. The organisation now known as Inner-City Wellington was founded at the Southern Cross Tavern on 3 November 2008 after meetings involving Te Aro residents, businesses and local political figures. The venue therefore represents more than a place to eat and drink: it has served as an informal meeting point for neighbourhood organisation and inner-city community discussion. ### Seating and Layout There is no published single concert capacity for the whole premises, and the venue does not operate with fixed auditorium seating. Instead, spaces are booked separately or combined according to the event. The latest published function information lists The Guest Room at up to 120 cocktail-style guests or 52 seated, The Porch at 45 cocktail or 20 seated, The Gallery at 40 cocktail or 25 seated, and The Lounge at about 45 cocktail guests. The Guest Room is the most adaptable option for talks, presentations, private celebrations and small staged activities. It can be arranged in boardroom or theatre style for up to 30 people, although that figure describes a particular meeting layout rather than a general entertainment capacity. It has booth seating, its own bar connection and access towards the garden. The Porch is a covered outdoor area in the upper-left portion of the garden. It suits casual groups and has heating, a fireplace and blankets for cooler conditions. The Gallery offers a more linear arrangement with zinc-top tables, movable wooden screens and space to mingle. It also doubles as a display area for featured local artists. The Lounge, near the main entrance, is more informal, with leather couches, low tables and its own gas fireplace. For live music, sightlines and sound depend on where the performer is positioned and how the restaurant is laid out that night. Visitors wanting to watch closely should arrive early and ask staff which area is being used for the performance. The venue’s published material does not provide a theatre-style seating map, stage dimensions, decibel policy or detailed acoustic specification. ### Architecture, Design and Technical Facilities The Southern Cross interior is deliberately eclectic rather than minimalist. Design work by John Mills Architects uses strong colours, retro references, timber screens, patterned finishes, booth seating and collected furniture. One documented fit-out used copper-clad sliding walls, low pegboard ceilings, fold-out tables, striped materials, a back-lit awning and an Axminster carpet, with colours including Bahama Blue, Guardsman Red, Limeade, Rain Forest and Royal Heath. The design language draws on the classic New Zealand caravan and on mid-century lounge interiors, but it is applied across a working pub and garden rather than a formal heritage restoration. The result is a sequence of distinct rooms: colourful indoor areas, a lounge with a fireplace, a gallery for art, a function room and a garden that feels partly enclosed and partly open-air. Outdoor fires, covered seating and heating help the garden remain usable through Wellington’s changeable weather. Confirmed technical facilities are modest but practical. The Guest Room includes a 54-inch plasma screen, a cordless microphone and a sound system suitable for presentations, speeches and small functions. Publicly available material does not specify a permanent concert PA, mixing desk, lighting inventory, stage dimensions, rigging points, microphones beyond the cordless unit or production crew. Performers and organisers needing professional technical support should confirm requirements before booking. ### Getting There and Parking The address is 39 Abel Smith Street in Te Aro, close to the Cuba Street precinct. The venue is walkable from the central city, with Cuba Street, Dixon Street, Manners Street and Courtenay Place all forming useful navigation points. From Courtenay Place, walk towards Dixon Street and Cuba Street, then continue into the Abel Smith Street area. From Wellington Railway Station, use a central-city bus towards Manners Street or Courtenay Place, or walk through the CBD and Te Aro. Metlink services operate through the central city, and the Airport Express connects Wellington Airport with Wellington Railway Station and CBD stops including Lambton Quay, Willis Street, Manners Street and Courtenay Place. From the airport, the practical public-transport option is to take the Airport Express or a city bus to the central area, then continue on foot or by a short taxi or rideshare journey. Parking is primarily a city-street matter. The venue’s function information confirms on-street parking on Abel Smith Street and Cuba Street, but does not advertise a dedicated customer car park, reserved event parking or parking validation. Property information records one carpark associated with the site; this should not be treated as public visitor parking. Council parking charges and time limits vary by zone and can change, so allow extra time rather than relying on a space directly outside. Rideshare and taxi passengers should use the Abel Smith Street frontage or an agreed nearby kerbside location, subject to traffic restrictions. On busy evenings, a drop-off on Cuba, Dixon or Vivian Street may be easier than stopping directly outside the venue. ### Inside the Venue Expect a relaxed, mixed-use hospitality environment rather than a formal theatre entrance. Guests may be dining, watching sport, attending a quiz, meeting friends, joining a workshop or listening to music at the same time. The venue offers table seating, booths, leaners, bar seating and indoor and outdoor areas. Food and drinks are central to the experience, with a classic pub-style offering, beer, wine, cocktails, coffee and non-alcoholic choices described in venue and visitor material. Families are a significant part of the venue’s identity. Published visitor information describes toys, games, colouring activities, children’s activities, high chairs, baby-changing facilities and space for prams. Children are allowed on the premises until 10pm when supervised. Dogs are welcomed during the advertised Pints with Pups sessions and in the outdoor garden area rather than as a general assumption that dogs can use every part of the building. The function pack states that outside alcohol and outside food are not permitted because of the venue’s licence. For private functions, minors must be supervised, minimum guest numbers and catering requirements are due at least seven working days before the event, and deposits or minimum spends may apply. The same material lists accepted age-identification documents as a New Zealand driver licence, valid passport or Kiwi Access card, with anyone who appears under 25 liable to be asked for identification. ### Accessibility and Inclusive Facilities Published event information identifies Southern Cross as wheelchair accessible, but also gives important qualifications. The ground floor is described as accessible, while the route is relatively narrow, and some event spaces may be too tight for every mobility requirement. Stairs lead to lower or separate areas, so an event held away from the ground floor may not offer the same access. Visitors who need step-free access, a particular table position, space for a mobility device or an accessible toilet should confirm the arrangement for the specific event before purchasing. Accessibility can change according to furniture, private bookings and whether the event uses The Guest Room, Gallery, Porch or another area. The venue is in New Zealand, so New Zealand accessibility terminology and building requirements apply rather than US ADA rules. ### Nearby Amenities The venue is surrounded by the Te Aro hospitality district. Cuba Street and its side streets provide cafés, restaurants, bars, takeaway food and late-night options before or after an event. Courtenay Place is another practical destination for evening dining and entertainment, while the CBD contains accommodation ranging from hotels to serviced apartments. The compact central-city layout makes it realistic to plan dinner, a Southern Cross event and a later stop elsewhere without using a car. For a meal at the venue, arrive early enough to order before a quiz, performance or workshop starts. For a garden-bar visit, bring a layer even in summer: Wellington wind can make an outdoor table feel cooler after sunset, although the covered areas, heating and fireplaces improve comfort. After late events, buses, taxis and rideshare services are generally more practical than trying to find a final street-parking space. ### What Makes This Venue Special Southern Cross stands out because it combines a city-centre garden, pub culture, family programming, live music and community use in one property. It is not built around a single genre or a single audience. A local band can play on Friday, a children’s activity can run on Sunday, a science discussion can occupy The Guest Room and a charity festival can use the garden, bar and restaurant together. That flexibility explains why the venue appears repeatedly in Wellington’s social, creative and community calendars. The venue’s cultural contribution is particularly visible in its charity and local-artist activity. ShakesBeer has used improvisational theatre and a special beer to raise money for Shakespeare education. The Free Store Festival has brought local musicians, artists, creators, food and fundraising together, with a 2023 event raising $20,000 for the Free Store. The Gallery also offers a place for featured local artists to display and sell work. Visitor opinion is positive about the garden, atmosphere, family friendliness, location and staff, but reviews are not uniform. Some recent diners praise the relaxed setting, generous space and friendly service; others report slow service, inconsistent food or meals that do not match the price. The fairest expectation is to choose Southern Cross for its atmosphere, social setting and programme as much as for a destination dining experience. ### Visitor Tips and Information Book ahead for quizzes, workshops, private events and larger groups. For free live music, arrive early if you want a clear view or a comfortable table. Check whether your event is indoors, in The Guest Room, in the Gallery or in the garden, because the experience and accessibility can differ between spaces. Bring valid identification if you look under 25 and plan to buy alcohol. Do not bring outside food or alcohol. Children must be supervised and leave by the permitted time. Dogs should be limited to the outdoor areas and advertised dog-friendly sessions. There is no published dress code, so casual Wellington clothing is appropriate, with a warm layer recommended for the garden. The most common mistake is treating 39 Abel Smith Street as a fixed-seat music venue. It is a flexible bar and restaurant whose event layout changes from night to night. Check the event listing, reserve a table when advised, allow time for parking or public transport, and contact the organiser in advance if you need specific access or technical arrangements. ### Frequently Asked Questions #### What is at 39 Abel Smith Street in Wellington? 39 Abel Smith Street is home to Southern Cross Garden Bar and Restaurant, a long-established Te Aro venue with indoor dining areas, a garden bar, live entertainment, community programming and private function spaces. It is not a dedicated theatre or concert hall, so events take place within a working hospitality venue and may include table service, food and drinks. #### Does Southern Cross have live music? Yes. The published programme includes live music on selected Fridays, generally from 6pm to 9pm. The format varies between DJs, solo performers and bands, with the line-up changing regularly. Live music is promoted as free for the advertised sessions, although booking a table is sensible if you want to sit close to the performance or dine during the set. #### Do I need a ticket for live music? For the venue’s regular Friday live-music sessions, no separate ticket is normally required. Entry is generally part of the ordinary bar and restaurant experience, subject to available space and any event-specific conditions. Special fundraisers, workshops or private events can be different, so read the individual listing rather than assuming every performance at the address is free. #### Does Southern Cross run a regular quiz night? Yes. The weekly pub quiz is advertised for Tuesdays at 7pm. Teams compete for Star Points, with published prizes for the top three places. You can usually form a team with friends, but bookings are recommended because the quiz relies on tables. Arrive early if you want to eat before the questions begin or need time to organise a team. #### What other recurring events are held there? Recurring or seasonal activities include Beats by Bingo, children’s face painting, Pints with Pups, Cross Critters, board-game gatherings, live sport and selected creative workshops. The venue has also hosted dance events, social mixers, science talks, professional networking, sketch clubs and charity festivals. The programme changes, so the live listing is more reliable than an old event calendar. #### Is Southern Cross suitable for private functions? Yes. The venue offers several bookable areas for birthdays, work functions, meetings, celebrations and community gatherings. The Guest Room is the largest published function space, while The Porch, Gallery and Lounge suit smaller groups or more informal occasions. Deposits, minimum spends, catering requirements and final guest numbers can apply depending on the booking. #### What is the largest published function capacity? The Guest Room is listed for up to 120 guests in cocktail format and 52 seated. That is a function-space capacity, not a general concert capacity for the entire property. Other published capacities include 45 cocktail guests for The Porch, 40 for The Gallery and about 45 for The Lounge. Layout, furniture and event conditions can reduce usable capacity. #### Is there general admission seating? There is no standard theatre-style general admission layout. Most public events use the venue’s existing tables, booths, bar seating and standing areas. A workshop or talk may use a particular room with arranged seating, while live music may be presented in a more casual garden-bar configuration. Ask staff where the performance area will be before choosing a table. #### Is the venue wheelchair accessible? Published event notes describe Southern Cross as wheelchair accessible, particularly on the ground floor. They also warn that some routes and event spaces are narrow or tight, and stairs serve some lower areas. Because furniture and room allocation change, visitors who need step-free access or extra turning space should confirm the exact event layout before booking. #### Are children allowed at Southern Cross? Children are welcome when supervised. The venue promotes family activities, colouring, toys, face painting and children’s dining offers. The function information states that minors may remain on the premises until 10pm, subject to supervision and licensing requirements. A late-night music or bar environment may feel different from a daytime family visit, so plan around the event time. #### Are dogs allowed? Dogs are associated with the outdoor garden area and advertised Pints with Pups sessions. The venue should not be treated as uniformly dog-friendly indoors. Keep dogs settled and under control, particularly during busy events, and confirm the arrangement if you are attending a private function or a ticketed activity where space may be limited. #### Can I bring my own food or alcohol? No. The published function information states that outside food and alcohol are not permitted because of the venue’s liquor licence. Food, drinks and catering for private events must be arranged through the venue. Dietary requirements can be discussed for functions, and public visitors can order from the available food and beverage offering during ordinary service. #### What identification is accepted? The function information lists a New Zealand driver licence, a valid passport or a Kiwi Access card as accepted proof of age. Anyone who appears under 25 may be asked for identification. Bring the original valid document rather than relying on a photograph or an expired card, particularly if you intend to purchase alcohol at a busy evening event. #### Is there parking at 39 Abel Smith Street? On-street parking is available in the surrounding Abel Smith Street and Cuba Street area, but the venue does not advertise a dedicated public car park or event parking. Spaces, time limits and charges vary by council parking zone. Public transport, taxi or rideshare is often simpler for late events, especially on Fridays and Saturdays. #### What is the easiest public transport route? Use a central-city bus to Manners Street or Courtenay Place, then walk through Te Aro towards Cuba Street and Abel Smith Street. The Airport Express connects Wellington Airport with the railway station and central-city stops including Manners Street and Courtenay Place. From Wellington Railway Station, a city bus or central-city walk is usually the practical connection. #### Does the venue have outdoor seating? Yes. The garden bar is one of Southern Cross’s defining features, with covered areas, outdoor seating and dedicated function spaces. The Porch includes heating, a fireplace and blankets for cooler weather, although Wellington wind can still affect comfort. If you are attending an event outdoors, bring a warm layer and check whether the booking is weather-sensitive. #### Does the venue provide audio-visual equipment? The Guest Room is documented as having a 54-inch plasma screen, cordless microphone and sound system. These facilities are intended for presentations, speeches and small functions. No detailed public technical rider lists a concert-grade PA, lighting rig, stage dimensions or production staffing, so performers and event organisers should confirm technical requirements before signing a booking. #### Can local artists exhibit at Southern Cross? The Gallery is described as a space that hosts a featured artist and can display and sell local artwork. This makes the venue part hospitality space, part informal exhibition setting. Arrangements appear to be event or artist specific rather than an open daily gallery programme, so artists should enquire about current display opportunities and the conditions for using the space. #### What should I wear to Southern Cross? There is no published formal dress code. Casual Wellington clothing is appropriate for the bar, restaurant, quizzes and live music. A warm jacket or extra layer is useful for the garden, particularly after dark or during southerly weather. For workshops or dance events, wear clothing that allows movement and footwear suitable for the particular activity. #### How early should I arrive? Arrive 15 to 30 minutes before a booked quiz, workshop or ticketed event, allowing extra time if you need to collect tickets, order food or find a suitable accessible table. For free Friday music, arriving earlier improves your choice of seating. If you are driving, leave more time because nearby street parking is limited and subject to council restrictions. --- This page is on Ticket Fairy, a ticketing, marketing and operations platform for live events and the venues that host them: festivals, club nights, concerts, conferences and tours, and night clubs, beach clubs and concert venues. It grows revenue with fan rewards that turn an audience into a sales channel, and runs the money side with payments and payouts, Vault business banking, and working capital advanced against ticket sales. [How Ticket Fairy ticketing works](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event-ticketing) · [Ticket Fairy for AI assistants](https://www.ticketfairy.com/llms.txt)