NEWS: Chrischurch's Dux De Lux Lives On

It became one of the potent symbols of what the city had lost in the earthquakes, when the Dux de Lux – one of Christchurch’s best recognised bar and restaurant establishments – was forced to close after the 22nd February earthquake.

Ten months on and the team behind the Dux is back in a new incarnation and with a determination to bring the music, food and entertainment it is renowned for back to central Christchurch.
 
Dux Live general manager Ross Herrick says the new venue has many of the original elements that made the Dux de Lux so popular, with a new focus that combines casual indoor and outdoor dining, a relaxed lounge-style meeting place, and a late night music venue.

“Dux Live is a totally new concept – but many of the fans of the original Dux de Lux will find a lot that’s familiar,” says Ross Herrick.

“If you’ve been missing our award-winning brewery beers on tap, our famous pizzas, nachos and chips, or just having a place to meet with that friendly Dux atmosphere – you’ll find all that at Dux Live.”

However, the difference in the new Lincoln Road venue, according to Mr Herrick, is the opportunity the team has had to design and fit-out a music-friendly venue.

“The Dux has been a mainstay of the local music scene for decades, with many recognised localacts, including Anika Moa, The Feelers, and Salmonella Dub, making their start in the industry with regular gigs at the Dux de Lux,” says Ross Herrick.
 
“Dux Live has been carefully designed and built – with everything from acoustic wall and ceiling linings to a new digital sound system – to deliver a great sound for music fans.”

Although the Dux Live has been built with music in mind, says Ross Herrick, it's the many other aspects of the new venue that new and returning Dux regulars have found appealing.
 
“This area between Addington and the city has seen rapid growth since the earthquakes, with more and more businesses congregating between Lincoln and Blenheim Road. So demand for lunch – or even just a casual meeting over coffee in our courtyard – has been strong. We are still very committed to getting back to the Dux de Lux, and the Arts Centre Board and management have affirmed that there will always be a place for us in a rebuilt Arts Centre.”
 
“Dux Live, too, isn’t a temporary bar – we plan to continue this operation here after we reopen the Dux de Lux. For the whole team, its been great to get back to doing what we love – providing great food, entertainment and local music to our community.”