Christchurch
THE CHURCH PUB
Located within the historic Trinity Church in central Christchurch, The Church Pub breathes new life into a much-loved local landmark. Originally constructed in 1875, this Gothic Revival treasure sat derelict for nearly a decade following the Christchurch earthquakes. The client’s vision was clear: to revive the building as a vibrant hospitality and live music venue that honours its past while celebrating the present.
The interior fitout thoughtfully balances heritage and modernity. Original architectural details were preserved and celebrated, with key elements sensitively reused throughout the space. The main bar front is crafted from original church timberwork, now backlit with a graphic and flanked by sympathetically designed joinery, creating a powerful focal point that anchors the venue’s narrative.
Materiality plays a central role in the design story. Fluted, raw-look tiles are paired with glossy modern finishes in the open kitchen area, which houses a dramatic woodfired pizza oven, bringing warmth and theatre to the dining experience. Upstairs, the mezzanine bar continues the dialogue between old and new, with custom timber joinery echoing the tones and forms of the original fretwork. Below the porcelain-topped bar, bespoke cast plaster panels add texture and visual rhythm.
Perhaps the most show-stopping feature is the reinstated original church organ, painstakingly tracked down by the client and returned to its rightful place, serving as a powerful and poetic symbol of the building’s revival.
The Church Pub is more than a hospitality venue, it’s a celebration of resilience, craft, and community, where heritage architecture and contemporary design come together in perfect harmony.
