9 February 2011

SKYCITY Auckland announces three new signature restaurants and bars for Federal Street

SKYCITY Auckland has announced the official start of construction of the first three new signature restaurants and bars located on Federal Street. These three new restaurants and bars will add to its existing nineteen venues and be adjacent to the renowned ‘Bellota’ and SKYCITY Grand Hotel.

Continuing to attract high profile and high quality partners, SKYCITY is adding top talent to its team from Auckland, Wellington and Australia. Top Wellington chef, Al Brown (co-owner of Logan Brown); award winning Australian chef and restaurateur, Sean Connolly; and successful restaurateur, Luke Dallow (owner of Auckland’s Sale St Bar and Chapel); will join the established celebrity chef Peter Gordon, who has already made his home at SKYCITY with ‘dine by Peter Gordon’ and the Spanish Tapas Bar, ‘Bellota’.

SKYCITY Chief Executive Officer, Nigel Morrison says “It’s great to have Al, Sean and Luke involved and passionate about these exciting new signature outlets. These guys all have such strong reputations for delivering extremely successful restaurants and bars across Australasia and we are thrilled to have their expertise as part of our leading hospitality team. I’m sure these new venues will complement the very successful Bellota and this is a great way to start our revamping of Federal Street.”

At a function in the area reserved for Al Brown’s restaurant the Depot, Mr Morrison announced the early concepts for these new venues.

• Depot by Al Brown

Al Brown says: "Depot should be a blast; it’s all about serving unpretentious, delicious food in a fast and fun atmosphere."

Fast paced and fresh, Brown says ‘Depot’ will be a place to drop in and refuel. Small plates of food to share, oysters shucked to order, and much of the produce cooked over charcoal or hard wood. Depot will celebrate seasonal produce served in a straightforward style, with an emphasis on fun and attention to detail.

• The Grill by Sean Connolly

Sean Connolly says: “I am very excited to be here in Auckland, where I have been given a phenomenal opportunity to open a top restaurant and can cook with some fantastic, local New Zealand produce.”

Sean describes ‘The Grill’ as a dining style that will be simple and uncomplicated, and feature pasture fed meat and sustainable seafood from New Zealand’s very best producers – a perfect match to what will host one of the city’s leading wine lists. Boasting wooden tables, leather seating and a luxuriously dark, rich and edgy ambience – the space will complement The Grand Hotel entrance and adjacent Lobby Bar. With an emphasis on excellent produce and an efficient and friendly service style, The Grill by Sean Connolly will be the ideal location for a relaxed dining experience.

• The Red Hummingbird by Luke Dallow

Luke Dallow says: “Federal St will be an entertainment hub, with its lively atmosphere and selection of great options in hospitality. This will be a great destination for Aucklanders and I can see it turning into an ‘oak tree’ precinct for Auckland.”

Luke says ‘The Red Hummingbird’ will be based on the concept of a gastro pub environment with the sophistication of a bar but the familiarity of a cosmopolitan club and the ease of a local. Think prohibition speakeasy with the localisation and sociability of a community bar and the sophistication of a 5th Ave cocktail lounge. Everything is here for however you feel.

SKYCITY CEO Nigel Morrison says with big plans to be the home of entertainment for Rugby World Cup 2011, these partnerships put SKYCITY in a strong position to be at the centre of the action as New Zealand takes to the world stage. These developments will be open in time for September’s Rugby World Cup and are part of the $50 million revamp SKYCITY has committed to preparations ahead of the major sporting tournament.

* Please note that restaurant and bar descriptors are still in the concept stage and are subject to development.

Al Brown
Al Brown is a Chef, TV Presenter, Writer, Fisherman and Co-owner of Logan Brown Restaurant & Bar in Wellington, New Zealand. Al enjoys eating just about anything, but most of all simple food, cooked perfectly He believes that more time should be spent pleasing the palate than garnishing to please the eye.

Sean Connolly
Sean Connolly’s passion for cooking was evident the day he enrolled in his Yorkshire school’s home economics class. Connolly started his chef’s apprenticeship at the tender age of thirteen at the Pennine Hilton, Ainley Top near Leeds, working after school for free to gain valuable experience in the testosterone fuelled world of a commercial kitchen. Connolly found his calling during his tenure at the Princess Grill, a restaurant aboard the world’s most luxurious cruise ship, the QE2. Arriving in Australia Connolly’s talent quickly led to his appointment at Star City’s Astral in 1995. Connolly opened the doors to his second restaurant at Star City, Sean’s Kitchen, in September 2008. Connolly’s media career continues to move from strength to strength. In 2009, he hosted the multi award winning 13-part series of SBS’s ‘My Family Feast’, a celebration of multicultural Australian food, family and the stories of life. A cookbook was also released to coincide with the launch of the series.

Luke Dallow
Successful restaurateur and hospitality stalwart, Luke Dallow has been in the industry for some 20 years. With a string of successful bars and restaurants to his name including his ownership stint with Salsa in Grey Lynn and then embarking on the well known Malt in West Lynn. Salt Delicatessen and Garnet Bar & Kitchen followed. Then in October 2005, Luke opened Chapel Bar & Bistro in Ponsonby. In 2008 Sale St was opened followed by Dallow’s restaurant in 2010.

ENDS

© Scoop Media