Celebrity chef to breathe new life into old Wellington band rotunda

Tuesday, 2 September 2025

An aerial view of what the new Wellington Pavilion might look like. The development is due to open in late 2026.

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Celebrity chef and restaurateur Ben Bayly says he has fallen in love with Wellington’s historic Oriental Bay band rotunda and will design a new restaurant at the site as part of a multimillion-dollar redevelopment.

Bayly, known for Auckland restaurants Ahi and Origine and for Queenstown’s The Bathhouse, said he had “fallen in love” with the waterfront landmark on his first visit in April. He now plans to relocate to Wellington for several months to oversee the project’s launch.

“I just love Wellington – the city is so compact, creative, and coastal,” Bayly said.

Ben Bayly - pictured at Ahi, a restaurant in Auckland’s Commercial Bay - is coming to Wellington to create a restaurant as part of the redevelopment of the old band rotunda.

“We’ll be on a mission to find the best local suppliers and produce, and deliver a dining experience that draws on our Kiwi bach culture – relaxed, local and genuinely accessible. This is about people coming together over great food and unmatched views.”

The project is being spearheaded by Watson Group, with support from tech entrepreneur Rod Drury and designs by Novak + Middleton and Jack McKinney Architects. Mana whenua were also involved in shaping the development to revive one of New Zealand’s historic waterfront locations

The venue, renamed The Wellington Pavilion, has been closed since 2012 after being deemed earthquake-prone. It is set to reopen in late 2026, just before its 90th anniversary.

The new hospitality offering will include a 560m² casual eatery with balcony dining, a Garage Project beer bar, with the Wellington brewery appointed exclusive beer partner, a 220m² rooftop bar and terrace with sweeping harbour views, a street-front food kiosk with public seating, and public facilities including showers.

Originally built as a bathing pavilion in 1938, the Oriental Bay Band Rotunda housed several restaurants and bars from the 1980s until it was found to be earthquake prone.

Bayley said: “We will be on a mission to find the best local suppliers and produce from around the greater Wellington region and deliver a dining experience that draws on our Kiwi bach or ‘crib’ culture - local, relaxed, and genuinely accessible. This is about people coming together over great food and unmatched views.”

The wider redevelopment will also feature a luxury day spa and hot pools on the lower level.

Garage Project brewer Jos Ruffell said getting to pour their beer at the new Wellington pavilion was a ‘pinch-me’ moment.

Drury said the project had received overwhelmingly positive feedback from Wellingtonians.

“This is the kind of development that unites people and gives locals something to truly be proud of,” he said.

Garage Project co-founder Jos Ruffell said pouring their beer at the Pavilion was “a pinch-me moment”.

The brewery recently won four trophies at the New Zealand Beer Awards, including Champion Large Brewery.

Watson Group managing director David Loveridge said he was proud to be a part of the rebirth of the old building and working with a talented group to bring it to life.

“Ben shares our vision for the future of this incredible and iconic landmark in Oriental Bay.

“We love what Ben and team created with The Bathhouse on the shores of Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown, bringing another iconic building with a rich history back to life – and making it accessible and appealing to everyone, including families with younger kids.”

Resource consent for the full redevelopment was recently granted.

More than 50 fulltime and casual jobs are expected to be created once the Pavilion opens in late 2026.