“It will be great for hospitality in Whangārei,” Sandra Woods said. “We’re serving all Irish food. It’s a fabulous venue.”
The Woods had approval from Whangārei District Council to transfer the 18 gaming machines and TAB from Kensington Tavern to the new site, where a R18 restricted area would occupy 13% of the floor area.
The remaining areas included a main bar, front room with garden canopy, commercial kitchen and garden bar.
The tavern would be open from 10am to 10pm each day, closing three hours earlier than Kensington Tavern was licensed for.
Earlier this year, an application by the Woods was rejected by the Whangārei District Licensing Committee because of concern the proposal was mainly for a gaming lounge, with food and drink playing a secondary role.
Kensington Tavern owners Craig (left) and Sandra Woods are passionate about their plans to start Monnie O’Shea’s Irish Bar in Regent. Photo / Denise Piper
The couple have since revised their plan, decreasing the gaming area and increasing the commercial kitchen, plus producing a menu of Irish food including beef and Guinness stew, Monnie’s chicken pot and pizzas.
Objections against the new on-licence application close at 5pm today.
Over the last week, charity Communities Against Alcohol Harm put out flyers to nearby homes about the proposal and the chance to object, setting up an online form to help people object.
Secretary Dr Grant Hewison said in the first application, the applicants said no local organisation or school had objected but he believed that was because locals were unaware of the proposal.
This time, more than 40 people had already used its online form to object, citing concerns about parking, noise and traffic, and alcohol-related harm and gambling harm, he said.
The vision for Monnie O’Shea’s Irish Bar, as shown in this AI render, is a small, friendly pub and restaurant, Sandra Woods says.
“The community has spoken quite strongly in opposition … 47 responses have raised concerns about a pokie-tavern with 18 gaming machines coming into the community.”
One Whangārei resident opposed to the application, Colin Edwards, said everyone he spoke to was against the tavern.
Key concerns were the site’s proximity to nearby schools, lack of parking, the transfer of pokie machines and the TAB from Kensington Tavern, and potential smoking and vaping, he said.
“Having a pub open 12 hours a day opposite a school … people can see no advantage.”
Whangārei Primary School and Whangārei Girls’ High School are within about 300m walking distance of the site.
Edwards said at a recent U3A meeting, 150 people raised their hands to say they objected to the plans and more than 50 signed a petition.
Many were “flabbergasted” the applicant had no requirement to tell neighbouring residents what was planned, he said.
The empty building on the corner of Bank and Donald Streets was proposed for the new Irish bar. Photo / Denise Piper
Pub would be controlled environment
In response to concerns raised, Craig Woods said the proposed Irish bar would be a controlled environment, with highly skilled staff trained not to serve intoxicated people or minors.
Such provisions were not in place for alcohol after it was bought at supermarkets and off-licences, he said.
The couple live near Kensington Tavern and said noise, rubbish or extra traffic were not concerns.
Sandra Woods said the gaming machines would be enclosed in an area with facial recognition, and supervised by skilled staff who knew how to interrupt patrons if they had spent too much time at a machine or withdrew cash more than once.
Profits from the machines went to the Oxford Sports Trust which supported Northlanders.
Such support was not available for online gambling, she said.
Sandra Woods said many patrons preferred to use a taxi or Uber than drive because of concerns about drink-driving.
However, if patrons wanted to drive, parking was available on Donald St, Mill Rd and Shortland St, and there was a public carpark on nearby Wolfe St.
More information about Monnie O’Shea’s Irish Bar’s new on-licence application is available from Whangārei District Council offices and on its website.
This article has been corrected to clarify that Craig Woods said control over alcohol was not in place after it had been bought at supermarkets and off-licences, and his name has been corrected from Colin to Craig.
Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.