Spaceworks partnered with Good Spirits Hospitality to reposition a long-standing Britomart venue, transforming the former Brew on Quay into Slattery & Sons, a distinctive Irish pub designed to compete in one of Auckland’s most saturated hospitality precincts.
In a location surrounded by bars and eateries, success depends on doing something better, or different. This project set out to do both.
The result is a highly considered venue that balances character, atmosphere, and operational performance, delivering a stronger customer experience and a measurable commercial uplift.
This hospitality design & build project builds on Spaceworks’ ongoing work with Good Spirits Hospitality across their venues, supporting a consistent and high-performing hospitality portfolio.
While the client had been successfully operating within the space, the existing fit-out had become tired and lacked a clear identity. Within a densely populated hospitality area, it was no longer standing out or attracting the right mix of customers.
The layout also felt disconnected, made up of a series of underutilised spaces that didn’t function as a cohesive whole.
At the same time, there was pressure to deliver quickly. The venue’s proximity to Spark Arena created a strong commercial opportunity to open ahead of the October 2025 concert season and capture pre- and post-event trade.
The challenge was to reposition the venue, define a strong identity, and deliver it with speed, cost certainty, and confidence.
Good Spirits Hospitality knows a thing or two about what drives a successful venue and how to keep punters coming back. And it’s not just the food and beverage offering — the space plays a critical role in shaping that experience.
They came to us with a strong vision. Our role was to interpret that vision and bring it to life under significant time pressure, working to a fixed opening deadline while maintaining control over cost and delivery.
The design approach focused on creating a venue with a clear point of difference.
Rather than a typical Irish pub often seen locally, the concept shifted to a more refined “Victorian Irish” direction. Less novelty, more depth. A space with real character, layered detail, and a stronger sense of identity.
Working within a protected heritage building, with strict controls around what could be altered, became a key part of shaping the outcome. Rather than limiting the design, these constraints helped anchor it in something more authentic and enduring.
The strategy centred on targeted, high-impact moves rather than unnecessary spend. By working with the existing bones of the building and focusing investment where it mattered most, the design delivers a meaningful transformation without overreach.
Externally, the outdoor area was reworked as a key part of the overall offer, rather than a secondary space. It is now widely regarded as one of the best outdoor hospitality spaces in Britomart, reinforcing a clear point of difference within a saturated precinct.
A key part of the project was resolving how the space worked.
The layout was rationalised to create a clear and intuitive customer journey. A strong visual connection to the bar from entry encourages immediate engagement, while zoning supports both casual drinking and more settled dining.
The venue has been organised into a series of distinct but connected spaces, each with its own identity. A key move was the repositioning of the upstairs bar, now established as The Bloom Terrace. Previously underutilised and lacking a clear role, it has been redefined as a separate experience within the venue, targeting a previously untapped demographic with a softer, more considered experience, while supporting events and private functions.
Different areas are defined through flooring, furniture, and layout, allowing the venue to feel structured without being rigid. Built-in seating increases capacity while maintaining comfort across the space.
The result is a venue that works hard operationally while feeling effortless for the customer.
The success of the venue sits in how it feels.
Warm lighting, rich materials, and layered detailing create an environment that shifts naturally from day to night. The space balances energy and comfort, allowing it to support a wide range of occasions.
It feels familiar, but not expected.
The design removes friction from the experience. Clear flow, comfortable seating, and intuitive layout mean customers don’t need to think about how the space works. They simply enjoy being in it.
The venue sits within a protected heritage building, which informed how the design was approached.
Rather than competing with the architecture, the design works with it. Existing elements were retained and enhanced, helping to define spaces and reinforce a sense of authenticity.
This grounding gives the venue depth and credibility, allowing it to feel established rather than newly applied.
A critical part of the project was maintaining clarity and control from early design through to completion.
Delivered within a tight programme, the venue opened in October 2025 in time for the Spark Arena concert season. This timing has proven commercially significant, with the venue consistently operating at capacity before and after events.
Cost certainty was maintained throughout, giving the client and their team full confidence in both the process and outcome. By focusing on targeted investment, the project achieved a strong transformation without unnecessary expenditure.
Slattery & Sons is a clear example of how design can directly drive commercial success. The venue now stands out within a highly competitive precinct, attracting a broader demographic and delivering a strong uplift in dwell time and revenue. It operates as a destination in its own right, while also capitalising on its proximity to Spark Arena, becoming a go-to venue around major events.
More than a visual upgrade, the project provides a stronger platform for ongoing performance across the client’s portfolio.
This project demonstrates the value of doing something deliberately different in a saturated market.
By moving away from expectation and creating a venue with real character, the design establishes a clear point of difference while improving how the space performs operationally.
Combined with controlled delivery, cost certainty, and a focused investment strategy, the result is a venue that delivers both experience and commercial impact — day in, day out.
Client Testimonial
“As per our other projects involving Spaceworks we are delighted with the outcome achieved at Slattery & Sons. Brand deliverables were very much achieved as part of the design process. Costs were well managed and aligned with budget and we are now proud operators of a newly invigorated space returning materially above commercial expectations.”
— Geoff Tuttle, Good Spirits Hospitality
