Farewell the Gardies
June 18th, 2010 at 1:00 pm by David FarrarNZPA report:
Dunedin student pub The Garden Tavern, known as Gardies, will close its doors for the final time this weekend after being sold to Otago University this year.
Up to 1500 people were expected to descend on the Castle St pub this weekend, with Saturday its last day of business, the Otago Daily Times reported.
A very sad day. May the scarfies farewell it in style.
Police-funded buses would transport students from North Dunedin to the central city to minimise the disturbance to residents, Inspector Dave Campbell of Dunedin police said.
What a very smart idea.
Tags: Dunedin, Otago University
June 18th, 2010 at 1:07 pm
Man, I miss my days at Otago University. I just hope there aren’t any stupid riots this weekend.
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Gardies was shit. I remember watching the Bledisloe cup there and the place ran out of beer.
Vote:Expect a few Hakas before the night is over!
June 18th, 2010 at 1:16 pm
I used to be a regular at the Gardens. Had to queue up the stairs sometimes. Had some good bands. A mate got arrested for underage, calling the cop Trev didn’t help his case, I kept quiet and escaped.
I don’t remember any shortages of beer – except that when you carried a few jugs through the crowd you would end up a bit short. I wonder of the carpet is still so sticky.
I sort of knew one of the guys who got hit by the shotgun attack.
I left Dunedin for a while and when I came back it had changed, it had gone disco so lost it’s appeal.
Not so sad for me, that’s all a long time ago. A lot of pubs have changed in that time.
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Isn’t there an existing bus service that can cater for this?
[DPF: Not from outdoor the pub, and not one that is free]
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
“What a very smart idea.”
What…???
Cops facilitating a bunch of whackers in getting pissed out of their minds?? What civilised society would really regard that as a good idea??
How about they just enforce the law and lock up the fuckers who cannot behave. Twelve months hard labour and a dozen Singapore style lashes for every perp and the problem would disappear overnight.
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
“Police-funded buses would transport students from North Dunedin to the central city to minimise the disturbance to residents…”
The nth degree of nanny statism. Not a “smart” idea.
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
The ‘Gardens (where this Gardies crap comes from I don’t know coz it wasn’t called that in the early 80′s) holds more than a few memories for me. Most of which can’t be repeated as the people are still alive!
There used to be a beaten path between the ‘Orrie, the ‘Cook and the ‘Gardens and when the pubs closed you just followed the trail of people to the nearest party.
There was the odd time that students tried to drink it dry, but without success. The reason I was told by a staff member was that even if all the taps were held open they could not drain the tanks in a day. And the tanks were regularly topped up.
The reason it is closing is that the University has bought it and is closing it down to try to bring an end to the drinking culture in the northern end of the student area. Fat chance.
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
It will be a day of epic proportions!
To be fair I think OUSA via the la presidenta Harriet have done an awesome job. I hate to say it but this is an excellent example of “putting a fence at the top of the cliff rather than an ambulance at the bottom” scenario.
The SA has been proactive, whilst the DCC remain fairly ignorant, in addressing the issues as well as the police comming to the party (I imagine also literally on the day!).
However I caveat this in that the students know what is expected of them and if they do cause shit – then watch this space for the deserved repercussions.
The media here also should have some accountability as it has been them who have once again been reporting ‘a riot will occur’ – if they would shut the fuck up and stop inciting stupid behaviour we might also see different results.
Myself – I’m going to enjoy my last day at Gardies, before I see the rugby (live!) I have to admit in my first/second year of uni a fair amount of my loan was spent there!
Don’t worry, the floors are still sticky, the beer garden is superb and I have only seen the bar drunk dry one (that doesn’t mean that it is often tried!)
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
CN: “To be fair I think OUSA via the la presidenta Harriet have done an awesome job.”
All the more reason that membership of this organisation should be voluntary, thereby hamstringing its ability to serve as an advocate for student interests and ensuring that future events are more likely to result in mayhem.
Ah, yes … principle is a wonderful thing …
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
I agree Alex, I used to go to the Gardens in Dunedin, never the Gardies in Dunners. And we had a feed at the August Moon, never at Mackers.
They’ve done it before, they’ll try it again. They don’t give a shit about consequences of their publicity as long as they get their headlines.
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
AG – I am pro VSM, I have submitted my proposal to the select committee and spoken in person to the committee in front of the OUSA executive.
I advocated for the welfare role of OUYSA to remain compulsory whilst the political advocacy to become voluntary.
I think that if OUSA continues with the realistic and pragmatic approach that has been adopted under harriet then their membership would not be an issue.
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
Gardies is a shithole. cya!
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 7:11 pm
Gardies is being shut tonight, a night earlier than planned after the uni paid out the owners to shut a night early. How many hundreds of thousands of students dollars did the uni misspend on this outrage?
How can Otago uni claim poor?
I can’t see how the uni can legally pay this money to gardies. Surely their funding is meant to be spent on students?
Perhaps this dodgy spending is the real reason why Skeggs is stepping down?
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
Sweet memories, not of the Gardens but of the August Moon. Regularly ate cheese burgers and chicken chow mein from this establishment. Absolutely awesome 1981 to 1985.
Vote:June 19th, 2010 at 1:04 am
Perhaps if those 1,500 people had descended on the Gardens a few times a month it would not now be closed.
Vote:June 19th, 2010 at 7:02 am
Appetiser – buttered bread soaked with Worcester Sauce (“restaurant” tradition in the old days)
Vote:Entree – chicken fried rice
Main – steak and chips
June 19th, 2010 at 8:04 am
I must say i have been lmao at the chatter over the net about this, some very pissed of people are up to mischief.
Vote: