by Metropol | March 18, 2026 8:32 am
Back in the 80s and 90s, the most popular place to be in Christchurch was the Dux de Lux beer garden and restaurant in The Arts Centre.
Known for nurturing original music, some of New Zealand’s biggest names in music played there, and it was the springboard for a host of local bands, including Salmonella Dub, Shapeshifter, Fat Freddy’s Drop, The Exponents, and Shihad.
Dux 2.0
Then came the earthquakes. As a result of the 22 February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the Dux de Lux closed due to structural damage, as did all of The Arts Centre buildings. Restoration efforts have been ongoing ever since. To date, The Arts Centre has done 80% of its restoration work. The next step is to fix the Student Union building (formerly the Dux de Lux).
In the past nine months, the council has been in discussions with The Arts Centre on how to revive the Student Union building as a brew bar, relaxed restaurant and live music venue. If restoration funding were forthcoming, the Student Union building could be open in two years.
Have your say
Read the proposal for yourselves at letstalk.ccc.govt.nz/annualplan/restoring-our-iconic-buildings, but if you’re excited by getting a live music and hospitality venue back in a restored Student Union building, tell the council. To comment on the fate of the city’s iconic heritage buildings, go to section four in the submission form.
Council reviews submissions as they come in, so the sooner the better. Submissions close on 27 March so get in early and do it now.
makeasubmission.ccc.govt.nz/our-draft-annual-plan-2026-27/PQEAAA
Source URL: https://metropol.co.nz/return-of-the-dux/
Copyright ©2026 Metropol unless otherwise noted.