Mount bars forced to shut doors

Three bars and restaurants in downtown Mount Maunganui have closed as trading slows with the onset of winter.
One of them, Astrolabe Restaurant - which has been operating for 16 years - will reopen under the same ownership in November following a major refurbishment.
The future of Breakers Cafe and Bar and the adjoining Rosie O'Grady's Irish Bar further along Maunganui Rd at the corner with Rata St is more uncertain.
The franchised Breakers and Rosie O'Grady's businesses suddenly closed on Tuesday after four years of trading there, and up to 10 staff were looking for new jobs at nearby bars and restaurants.
A source, who did not want to be named, said he understood Inland Revenue and a power company were chasing payments.
A Whodunnit Mystery Dinner, due to be staged at Rosie O'Grady's on Saturday night, has been transferred across the road to the Mount Mellick bar.
Meanwhile, Bryan Potter - a director of Mirage Holdings which owns Astrolabe - said: "We've already got design concepts and we are moving towards a total re-build. We've known for some time that it needs to be revitalised and we have a positive plan to go forward.
"We've closed the premises a little bit earlier than anticipated - but trade was such that it's better to do it sooner rather than later."
Mr Potter said Astrolabe had a good trading season over Christmas but this season was shorter and "it's been tight all the way through. Approaching winter, trade has fallen off considerably".
He said the refurbishment will start in August and take about three months. The bar and restaurant will be re-modelled around the outdoor area - "the jewel in the crown".
Napier-based Breakers Restaurants holds the master franchise for both Breakers and Rosie O'Grady's, and executives could not be contacted yesterday about the situation in Mount Maunganui.
Messages pinned on the doors in Rata St said simply: "Premises closed until further note. Sorry for any inconvenience."
Breakers and Rosie O'Grady's took over the space of the former Anchor Inn, the closest hotel to the port and a popular meeting place for thirsty seamen. Rosie O'Grady's replaced the notorious Piggy's Bar.
Clayton Mitchell, owner of the Mount Mellick, said staff came looking for jobs as soon as Breakers and Rosie O'Grady's closed on Tuesday.
"I feel sorry for them; they are a good team and it's just the times."
Mr Mitchell, a member of the NZ Hotel Association, said a lot of hospitality businesses could see what was going on. "They had a reprieve over the summer months but when it gets cold and quiet, that's when it bites in."
He said he was happy to stage the Whodunnit Mystery Dinner. "We had a spare spot, and we will use one or two staff from Rosie's for the night."
The murder mystery, performed by the professional acting troop called The Prime Suspects, was virtually sold out, with about 100 patrons paying $60 a ticket, which includes a four course meal.
The Mellick can accommodate more than 100 people in its upstairs function room, and Mr Mitchell said he intended holding two more murder mysteries next month.