Renowned Christchurch jazz bar in liquidation over tax troubles

Saturday, 20 September 2025

A highly-rated jazz and tapas bar tucked away in a 1930s courtyard in Christchurch has been handed to the government’s in-house liquidator.

The Courtyard Restaurant Ltd, which trades as Vesuvio, was placed in liquidation by Associate Judge Owen Paulsen at the High Court in Christchurch on Thursday.

Vesuvio is a popular bar in Merivale’s Carlton Corner area, known for its high-end wines and comfortable setting, and has been on and off the Christchurch hospitality scene since 1992.

Judge Paulsen heard the company had made no payments to Inland Revenue, which sought the liquidation, since May last year.

A lawyer said there was some contact with a tax agent on behalf of the company in March this year, but the agent ceased acting for the company some time ago.

There had been no recent contact with company director Jon Gregory, who did not appear in court, the lawyer said.

The Official Assignee, a unit of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), was appointed as liquidator.

Gregory previously told The Press Vesuvio opened in 1992 on Oxford Tce, before closing in 2007 and reopening seven years later as a “hole in the wall” in Merivale.

It closed again just before the 2020 Covid lockdown, using the next three years to expand into and around a previously-shared 1930s courtyard. During this time, founder Matt Lingens suddenly died in June 2021.

Vesuvio has amassed a 4.6 star rating across 363 Google reviews. It would open from 3pm to late.

Gregory was approached for comment.