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One of New Zealand’s biggest sports bar to open opposite Christchurch’s new stadium

Saturday, 20 June 2026

Nick Inkster is developing a sports bar tipped to be the biggest pub in Canterbury, and one of the largest in the country. It’s conveniently opposite the stadium.
Nick Inkster is developing a sports bar tipped to be the biggest pub in Canterbury, and one of the largest in the country. It’s conveniently opposite the stadium.

Christchurch’s heritage bar entrepreneur is turning another old building in the city into a bar - one that promises to be among the biggest in the country.

The Inkster Company Ltd trio - Nick Inkster and brothers Richard and Andrew Norton - have secured the lease for a Tuam St warehouse which is expected to be Canterbury’s largest pub when it opens early next year, Inkster said.

The Lancaster sports bar will have a capacity for 1000 people, catering to concert-goers, punters and sports fans, and positioning itself as the perfect place to meet before walking across the road to One NZ Stadium.

The warehouse was most recently used as offices for the stadium developer BesixWatpac, and prior to that by C4 Coffee.

Inkster said New Zealand was ready for a large-capacity bar, similar to former Christchurch sports bars Holy Grail and Legends.

Nick Inkster, with his leonberger dog, Winston, has breathed life into many old buildings across Canterbury and Nelson, including The Prebbleton Hotel, Paddy McNaughton’s Irish Bar, The Church Pub and Fanny’s Pub Nelson.
Nick Inkster, with his leonberger dog, Winston, has breathed life into many old buildings across Canterbury and Nelson, including The Prebbleton Hotel, Paddy McNaughton’s Irish Bar, The Church Pub and Fanny’s Pub Nelson.

“There’s some great venues in and around the stadium and on The Terrace. There’s a market for a venue that’s right across the road that’s going to fit in a massive amount of people for convenience.”

He looked across the ditch for inspiration, where Australia’s biggest pub in Perth hosts up to 3000 punters just 100m from Optus Stadium.

The space is set to hold 1000 punters, taking inspiration from a Perth pub that hosts up to 3000 customers just 100m from Optus Stadium.
The space is set to hold 1000 punters, taking inspiration from a Perth pub that hosts up to 3000 customers just 100m from Optus Stadium.

The sports bar’s name has yet to be decided, but one thing is certain: it will take its moniker from Lancaster Park and Lancaster Hotel, the latter a venue with deep ties to Linwood Rugby Club, where Inkster and the Norton brothers forged a friendship that developed into a business partnership.

Steinlager - the official beer of the All Blacks - would be the lead drink of choice at the bar, he said. “Celebrating rugby union, because everything’s about rugby league at the moment.”

“Plenty of screens” would air matches, along with live music and major ticketed events on quiet nights.

By leasing the one-storey building to the right of the warehouse as well, the space would then be subleased to Battle Axe Throwing, the group activity venue currently on Orbell St.

The Tuam St bar will be the group’s 10th venue. Their portfolio includes The Prebbleton Hotel, OGB Bar & Courtyard, Fanny’s Pub Nelson and Fox & Ferret.