Craft beer can be a bit confusing. There are so many styles of beer, and so many brands out there competing. Not only that, but NZ’s industrial brewing companies Lion, DB and Independent Liquor also have craft beer labels too.

I am drawing a line in the sand and cutting out the “craft-washing” (this term is a Jules Van Cruysen adoption). From today, Cupid’s beer taps and craft beer fridge will not contain any craft-like brews or brands that are owned by industrial breweries. We will still keep a few Tuataras along with some Heinekens tucked away out of sight, but our visible options will be 100% independent.

The Ambassador Theatre was built in 1929 and seats were sold out on Friday and Saturday nights during its peak trading years. Attendance dwindled in the 1960s with the introduction of television and also the extended closing time of local pubs and hotels. It stopped showing films in 1985.

Historically, there has always been competition between the Ambassador (or, the Pt Chev Theatre as it was known after 1956) and The Hollywood, Avondale (previously called the Grosvenor) or the Cameo Theatre up in Grey Lynn shops.

Sometime in the early 00s a little pocket of something potent existed in Pt Chev. The quiet beach-side suburb possessed a grungy, rockabilly-punk bar tucked into the row of shops opposite the library.

The Ambassador bar was a vibrant, messy, banging rock and roll venue. The air was smoky, lights were dim and the walls were covered by shiny red wallpaper. Occasionally there would be a late-night venture into the dark theatre space for a peek.

What’s upstairs??? Is the old theatre still there? Where are the seats? Can you still show movies?

In it’s heyday, the Ambassador Theatre was the meeting place of Pt Chev. It’s little wonder people are still asking about it. It was where friendships were cemented, lovers met, shillings were spent and in the weekends the 1000+ seat theatre was fully booked out.