The Keg Room

What makes your venue the Best Gastropub in New Zealand?

The Keg Room is easily the best gastro pub in New Zealand, and here's why. First off, the team is super friendly – we make you feel right at home from the moment you step inside. It's like hanging out with good friends who happen to make amazing food and drinks.

We’ve developed a culture where our team want to be at work. In many cases they grow up here, dining with their family and want working with us to be their first job. That feeling of belonging and joy delivers in the experience to our guests.

The loyalty aspect is a big deal to us. Everyone is treated like family here, and there’s this great vibe of everyone knowing each other. We have a saying that is plastered on the wall of the pub “There are no strangers here; only friends you haven’t yet met.” We live and breathe this type of hospitality; we call it the art of connection.

On top of all that, mid-November every year we do a complete transformation into Christmas at The Keg - a Christmas cocktail bar that is no less than a Christmas wonderland. For a short five week season there isn't a piece of wall or ceiling that isn't decorated to the max! We are the only pop-up Christmas cocktail bar in the country - if you haven't seen it yet, you're missing out! We are focused on creating the most joyous feeling the moment you walk in the door; it's important to us that we bring the real joy of the festive season to our neighbourhood. We have a special themed menu, our Christmas cocktails being the highlight.

And really, that’s what sets The Keg Room apart. Our focus is on our hospitality being authentic, it’s wholesome and it comes from the heart. It’s not just about the food and drinks (which are top-notch, by the way), it’s about the whole experience – hanging out, feeling good, and being part of something in our neighbourhood.

Success to us isn’t just financial, we’re here to make a difference in people’s lives – our team, our customers, our friends. If we can create a place that makes people feel safe, welcome and a part of something; that is success.

• Describe the experience your customers have at your establishment – what is your food and beverage offering and why do people come back for more?

  At The Keg Room, the customer experience is all about comfort, uniqueness, and a bit of fun thrown into the mix. When you walk in, you're greeted with an atmosphere that's both cozy and buzzing with energy. It's the kind of place where you can unwind after a long day and just enjoy being there.

  Let's talk about the food – we’re not here to reinvent the wheel. We serve classic pub-style comfort food but we do it with a bit of flair. The flavours are what are most important – but our core principle is, simplicity is key.

  The wood-fired pizzas – they’re a crowd favourite. There's something special about the smoky flavour and perfect crust that only a wood fire can achieve. It’s a simple dish, but we do it exceptionally well, which is why people keep coming back for more.

  We were the first pub in NZ to have, get this –a full dog menu! Some 9 years ago, people thought we were barking mad (turns out it’s now ‘on trend’). This isn't just a token gesture; the dog menu is as thoughtfully prepared as the human one. It's this kind of attention to detail that turns a customer (humans and dogs) into regulars.

  Now, the drinks. We focus on a unique and non-standard drink selection that keeps things exciting. You’ll find yourself trying new flavours and labels that you won’t find anywhere else. This means that our team take time with our guests to help them discover what they might like – be it table-side or at a blind tasting event. We’re in the business of delivering an exceptional experience and we get such a kick out of someone discovering a new product or flavour that becomes a favourite.

  All these elements – the cozy atmosphere, the flavourful food, the dog-friendly approach, the unique drinks, and those amazing pizzas – blend together to create an experience that's just irresistible. People come back because The Keg Room isn’t just a place to eat and drink; it's a place that creates memories.

• Tell us how you showcase NZ produce / offerings? Does your menu change with the season and how is it locally influenced. How do you accommodate allergy and dietary requirements?

  Our menu is all about balancing our tried-and-true favourites with the thrill of trying something new and extraordinary. We love having our chefs concoct fun dishes that not only satisfy cravings but also surprise with bursts of seasonal goodness – this keeps our regulars engaged and interested all the while ensuring that the staples we are known for are maintained.

  We support local suppliers and distributors wherever we can, as an example our ice-cream provider is a boutique gelateria 200m up the road from the pub. He will craft different flavours to suit our concepts. Whenever we use specialty cheeses we source them from our local cheese store, 3 doors down. Many of the wines on our list are sourced from a boutique distributor who happens to be a customer too!

  We understand that dietary requirements are as unique as our guests, so no matter the allergies or preferences, we have a number of options that can be customised to suit the needs of our guests. Our team are trained to be able to discuss with our customers their needs and decipher what options will work for them.

• What are your key points of difference and how have you managed to deliver them?

  At The Keg Room, we're all about creating a unique and inviting experience for our customers, something that truly sets us apart. We pride ourselves on fostering a sense of family and community. To us, every customer is an extension of our family, and we strive to make our pub a warm, welcoming space where everyone feels at home.

  We’re an owner-operated establishment, this means a hands-on approach that allows us to ensure that the unique Keg Room experience is delivered consistently every time. We focus on the development of our team always – our people come first. Our leadership team steer and develop our young team members to find their own strengths, interests and work ethics.

  When it comes to our drink selection, we put a lot of thought into the flavours and options we offer. We understand that our customers have diverse tastes, and we love helping to find that new drink that they haven’t yet discovered.

  Our approach to developing and launching new products is always customer-focused. We consider what our ideal customers would enjoy and are constantly evolving and growing to meet and exceed their expectations. This ensures that every new addition to our menu is something we are not only proud of but also something that resonates with our patrons.

  Welcome to The Keg Room – where you're not just a customer, you're part of our community and this place is crafted for you.

Best Known for:

• the art of connection

• Christmas Wonderland

• Authentic vibe
  

thekegroom.co.nz

instagram.com/thekegroomnz

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• Please describe your commitment to sustainability.

  We’ve made all the usual switches to ensure our environmental impact is limited - we've removed all single use plastics, containers are eco-friendly. Our empty spirit bottles are reused as water bottles or behind the bar for housemade shrubs and the like. We recycle cardboard, glass and plastic where possible. One of our biggest sellers is the classic quart beer bottle - returned and refilled every time.

  When it comes to fryer oil, it's delivered straight into a tank by truck, so no more pesky plastic bladders. Our used oil is collected and recycled.

  We have a focus on the minimisation of food wastage: portion sizes are revised frequently, scraps go to the local pigs and we use ingredients across multiple dishes to streamline profit and wastage. Whilst there are more our last example is our ordering practices, we order just enough for what we need, we don’t hold a lot of stock ensuring that freshness is a priority.

• Have you won any awards in the recent past? Tell us about them.

  Waikato Hospitality Awards - People's Choice 2020; Hospitality Awards for Excellence - Finalist for Best Local 2022 & 2023, Finalist for Best Training & Development 2023; World's Best Dog Friendly Restaurant/Bar 2022

• Please describe how you create ambience.

  We’ve curated a cozy haven using a blend of ambiance techniques. Our furniture is decked out in darker shades, accented with warm texture details like lush tan leather and shiny copper light fixtures that invite you to sink in and feel right at home. The atmosphere gets an extra dose of warmth thanks to carefully placed mood lighting that adds a touch of magic to every corner.

  We've embraced an industrial glamour style, giving our space a unique and sophisticated edge. The addition of greenery in the form of plants and a green wall offer a liveliness to the darker finishes.

  Our motto “There are no strangers here; only friends you haven’t yet met.” is emblazoned on the wall along with our logo, emphasising our mission. Even our advertising and stop point promotions are chosen with intent.

  Every detail contributes to the experience we’re delivering; a warm and inviting ambiance that makes you want to linger.