The Waterfront

Words by Grace Odlum

When Conrad Banks and Zara Lange took ownership of the iconic Waterfront bar and kitchen, they saw lots of potential for improvement, and now that time has arrived.

The pair, who have owned the Waterfront since May of last year, have started a three-stage renovation plan.

Stage one involved replacing the bar and giving the Waterfront a general clean up, and stage two will be the improvement of the bathrooms, expanding the kitchen, and extending the deck.

“All of those things just mean we can fit more people in here,” Lange said.

“It’s a necessity,” Banks added.

Banks said these two stages are expected to be completed in November, and they will need to take a break over the busy season and begin stage three in March.

Stage three will be the addition of a retractable roof on the deck, so that people can enjoy the views all year round despite the weather.

“It just kind of winterises everything.”

Banks said there is also a bonus fourth stage which is the addition of a rooftop bar.

“The bar will be on the east side, so it doesn’t block the view.”

He said it will be able to seat up to 36 people and is expected to be completed in about 18 months.

“It’s like the jewel in the crown.”

Lange said despite it being such a huge project, they will stay completely operational throughout the construction.

“It’s a bit of a learning curve.”

The building is owned by Kāpiti Coast District Council (KCDC), but Lange and Banks have a lease on it until the late 2030s.

Banks said they are investing quite a substantial amount of money into the renovations and are funding it all themselves.

“We’re investing a lot into someone else’s property.”

The pair, who moved to the coast about three years ago, own two other hospitality businesses in Wellington, Bin44 and Dockside, which they renovated as well.

Banks said it’s an awesome location where you enjoy the “West Coast ruggedness”, but the two agreed the building could use an upgrade.

“She’s a bit tired,” Lange said.

Banks added they want to “smarten the old girl up”.

The two spend a lot of time in the Waterfront talking to their patrons, and Lange said the upgrade is what the community wants.

“I spend a lot of time talking to people and getting to know them.”

Banks said he wants to showcase what the coast has to offer, so they’re throwing everything they have at it.

They hired Ric Slessor from Slessor Architects located in Te Aro, Wellington, to design the upgrades, and Banks said he really understood the brief and what was wanted.

“He’s done a lot of stuff around the region.”

They also have a group of workers from local contractors doing the refurbishments and project management.

Banks said the Waterfront was such a central community point, so they had to do something.

“It’s an amazing place.”