Happy to entice drinkers

Dan Ross, Terri Collett and Cleo Kennedy. Photo / Chris Skelton

Happy hours are fashionable again as pubs and bars battle to lure back punters.

Customers who want a cheap drink - in moderation of course - haven't had it so good for a long time, with venues cutting prices and offering free snacks.

One has gone as far as offering a lavish buffet laden with gourmet pizza and hand-cut chips.

Hospitality Association chief executive Bruce Robertson said the strategy was popular to attract New Zealanders who had "hunkered down" during the winter - and the recession.

"New Zealanders have felt a bit guilty about spending any money. They do want to come out, they are prepared to, but they need an enticement to, they need to feel that they're getting value."

Auckland's Viaduct Harbour is perhaps the busiest entertainment area in the country on a sunny day.

But several bars were upfront about the impact of the downturn and bad weather.

"We are fighting for a share of very few people," said Rory Dempsey, assistant manager of Four Seasons.

He and manager Matt Chapman have introduced a happy hour from 4pm to 7pm.

"Down here we're so weather-dependent, if it's a sunny day we will have patrons, and if it's not we don't," Chapman said.

The pair also manage Cargo Bar next door, but instead of using a happy hour patrons are treated to free snacks on a Friday night.

Across the Viaduct, Waterfront Bar advertises its daily happy hour on three blackboards leading up to the front door.

From 4pm to 7pm the bar sells $4 house spirits and wines and $5 tap beers, with manager Nish Gupta offering free snacks.

The deals aren't confined to the city centre.

The Kingslander sports bar on New North Rd offers a happy hour from 5pm to 7pm every Thursday.

In Newton, Irish pub the Dogs Bollix has a happy hour every Friday from 5pm to 6pm and Grand Central on Ponsonby Rd has a happy hour between 4pm and 7pm every night.

Owner Jeremy Warnock said it's to attract customers during a quiet time of the day.

"It's not something I support too much, discounting drinks to get customers, there are too many bars in Auckland already."

In Hamilton, a pint of New Zealand beer is $5.80, and wine $6 a glass at Biddy Mulligans Irish Pub. Further down country, the Rahotu Tavern in Taranaki sells wine at $5.50 a glass and beer at $5.20 a pint.

In the capital, the Four Kings offers a "Corporate Shout" every Friday between 5pm and 7pm, with certain drinks two for the price of one.

However, not everyone thinks happy hours are a good idea.

In West Auckland, where the sale and supply of alcohol is controlled by the Portage and Waitakere Licensing Trusts, there are no happy hours in the local pubs.

Chief executive Murray Spearman said happy hours encourage bulk buying of alcohol at the end of the time period so customers can stock up on drink.

"We don't believe that cheap booze is to be encouraged under the Sale of Liquor Act."

Pizza the action

Great friends, great wine, and at this bar, great food. Pontoon bar on Auckland's waterfront goes all out to feed patrons with a sumptuous free buffet.

Patrons queue up for gourmet pizza, pasta salads and hand-cut chips.

"The way we got everybody from the surrounding businesses was by giving away something," manager Ricky Mauer said.

Terri Collett, Cleo Kennedy and Dan Ross often enjoy the buffet after work on a Friday. They had a free gourmet pizza last Friday to celebrate Collett's 25th birthday.

Ross is a fan of the calamari that sometimes makes the buffet but was also enjoying the pizza.

"It's the best part about this place. They go to town here."