The Speight's Ale House & Street Food Kitchen
What makes your venue the Best Gastropub in New Zealand?
Since 2004 in the heart of seaside Timaru, we have been famous for having the best courtyard in town. There are plenty of reasons to find yourself enjoying our seasonal gastro pub food, or just resting your wings and trying some of our ales on tap. Even better, sample a tasting rack. Whether you're catching up with friends, casual dinners, leisurely lunches or just a cocktail or two, we know we are the venue for you!
Our historical building made of bluestone is a treat to wander through and discover it's history.
The Speight's Ale House (SAH) and Street Food Kitchen (SFK) Timaru has a commitment to high quality food and a memorable dining experience. We are a family owned and operated business now in it's 20th year. The business being housed in a heritage building finished in 1876 adds a unique and nostalgic element to the experience, creating a sense of history and character. Being centrally located makes our venue a hub of activity drawing in both locals and tourists.
The SAH menu features traditional New Zealand cuisine, which may include dishes such as South Canterbury Lamb, local seafood and fish and chips. SFK offers a diverse and delicious array of international flavours, showcasing the rich tapestry of global cuisine. Each region and country bring its unique culinary traditions to the menu creating a vibrant and accessible dining experience blending the cosy and communal aspects of a traditional pub with the culinary delights of New Zealand's rich food culture.
We offer indoor outdoor dining, providing a comfortable and sheltered environment for patrons with a diverse range of seating options to cater to different preferences. This can include booth seating, dining tables and bar leaners. Booth seating provides a more private and intimate dining experience for groups or couples. Traditional dining tables are available for larger groups or those who prefer a standard dining set up. The split-level design adds visual interest to the space, creating different sections within the pub. This design enhances the overall ambiance and flow of the establishments. Our big outdoor courtyard adds to the charm, providing a pleasant setting for patrons to enjoy their meals and drinks, especially during good weather. A dedicated cocktail bar in SFK adds a sophisticated touch to our venue, appealing to those who enjoy a diverse and well-crafted drink selection. Emphasizing local New Zealand beer and wine to showcase our commitment to supporting local businesses and provides a unique taste of the South Island.
Our sponsorship of local events, teams and charities demonstrates a commitment to our local community, fostering goodwill and attracting a loyal customer base. By continuing to emphasise these strengths and exploring innovative ideas, our aim is to solidify our venues position as a premier gastro pub in New Zealand.
Describe the experience your customers have at your establishment – what is your food and beverage offering and why do people come back for more?
We Hire local and foreign staff who are passionate about our community and have excellent customer service skills.
We Encourage our staff to engage with customers, creating a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Ensure consistency in service and quality. We Regularly review and update our processes to maintain high standards.
Stay open to modern changes and trends. Regularly solicit feedback from customers to understand their preferences and expectations.
Feature a diverse menu with a mix of comfort food and innovative dishes.
Offer a selection of local craft beers, wines, and signature cocktails. Our Cruise Ship tourists enjoy our Tasting trays and Frozen Alcoholic Slushies over Summer months.
Tell us how you showcase NZ produce / offerings? Does your menu change with the season and how is it locally influenced. How do you accommodate allergy and dietary requirements?
We shop local to New Zealand and our regional suppliers. We showcase the Speight's and Emersons brands and stock a number of New Zealand wines. We are a production region and have direct relationships with local suppliers such as Silver Fern Farms, Fonterra, McCains, Sanford, Aoraki Salmon, Geraldine Eggs, Barkers of Geraldine, Geraldine Cheese Factory, Berry Barn Waimate.
We change our menu with the season, sourcing current produce for dishes. Main influences on this are supply and pricing.
We accommodate allergy and dietary requirements through our staff training program, clearly explaining allergens on our menus. Our kitchen prepares separately specific dishes related to allergens.
We are proud to be part of South Canterbury and we support our local Festival every year (S.C.O.F.F) South Canterbury Outstanding food Festival. this is where our team again gets to create and celebrate their skills by researching and using our local Growers, Producers and Artisan Creators products.
What are your key points of difference and how have you managed to deliver them?
The Speight's Ale House Timaru brand is close to the main Speight's Brewery in Dunedin. Housed in a historical building, the establishment shares a birth year with Speight's brewery, creating a sense of shared history and heritage. This setting adds to the overall charm and character of the venue. Featuring two restaurants within the same building offers our visitors a diverse culinary experience. This allows patrons to choose from a variety of dining options, catering to different tastes and preferences. The presence of a dedicated cocktail bar adds a modern and sophisticated touch to the overall experience. It provides a space for patrons to enjoy crafted cocktails in a relaxed and stylish environment. The inclusion of a spacious outdoor entertainment area allows our customers to enjoy their meals, drinks, and socialize in an open-air setting. This provides a versatile and enjoyable experience, especially during our summer season. The combination of historical architecture, dual restaurants, a cocktail bar, and outdoor entertainment space contributes to a unique and vibrant ambiance. This can make the venue a destination not just for dining but for a complete and memorable social experience.
Our overall management approach prioritizes delivering an exceptional customer experience. This involves training staff to provide excellent service, maintaining high-quality standards in food and beverages, and continuously seeking feedback for improvement.
We also know to throw a party. Our food and Beverage matching nights where our chefs create menus to showcase their talents and training. Emersons Beer Matching, Wine for Dummies classes, theme nights such as Day of the Dead, Diwali, Chinese New Year and many more, Our Courtyard Parties with Pig on the Spit, live Music over summer and also our Family and Friends nights with Santa for the Kids. Not to forget our famous Tradies Day BBQ and Party!
We have hosted New Zealand Music month featuring the talents of Jason Kerrison, John Toogood, the Lady Killers, The Exponents, Kaylee Bell and many more over the years. We support our local musicians with regular live music leading into Christmas also for our Mid-Winter Christmas feasts nights hosted in July. When enjoy entertaining our cruise ship guests with Local music for them to enjoy.
Best Known for:
Best courtyard in town
Tasting racks
Please describe your commitment to sustainability.
Our restaurants use reusable kegs to reduce the use of disposable containers, utilise a composting system for food waste to divert it from landfills, minimise food waste by implementing portion control measures, choose packaging materials that are easily recyclable, such as glass, aluminum, or cardboard, provide clearly labeled recycling stations for staff. And, we encourage feedback from employees and customers for continuous improvement.
We opt for reusable cleaning equipment to reduce waste and minimise the use of harsh chemicals in cleaning processes to prevent water pollution.
We prioritise sourcing ingredients locally, supporting local farmers and producers. This not only helps the local economy but also promotes sustainability.
Implementing eco-friendly practices, such as reducing waste and using sustainable packaging, to align with our local District Councils regulations for recycling at Redruth Recovery Park as our commitment to environmental responsibility. This approach aligns with the growing consumer preference for businesses that prioritize sustainability.
Have you won any awards in the recent past? Tell us about them.
In 2018 Street Food Kitchen won Emerging Business at the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards. The Speight's Ale House Timaru has won the Lion Nathan Master Brewer & Cellar Award.
Please describe how you create ambience.
We are housed in an historic building with original stone walls, wooden features, high ceilings and natural light. Using ambient lighting to create different moods, dimmers to control the intensity of the lighting. We tailor our music to the atmosphere we want to create, with playlists to suit different times of the day or specific events. Regularly clean and maintain the space to ensure a pleasant environment. We schedule regular live music performances and plan themed events to keep things exciting. Food Matching Nights:
Pair special dishes with specific drinks and themes and involve a chef or beverage representative to explain the pairings. We promote these nights to attract food enthusiasts.
