Hospitality Business Magazine

New Warriors & Hancocks sports bar opens in Kingsland

498 New North Road
Kingsland
Auckland

Trans-tasman design studio, CTRL Space is celebrating the kick off of its latest, and highly anticipated project, ‘Full Time Sports Bar & Eatery’ within walking distance of Eden Park.

The Kingsland venue, is a joint hospitality venture between the Warriors and Hancocks, with ambition to deliver the best sports bar New Zealand has ever seen – a place where fans, fanatics, friends and families come together to celebrate their passion for sports and racing.

With more than fifteen years experience in architectural interior design for the hospitality industry, CTRL Space was considered the perfect partner to deliver this innovative project.

The agency is the talent behind a swathe of hospitality hotspots throughout Australia and New Zealand, including Michael Meredith’s Metita in SkyCity Auckland, which has been nominated for an international Restaurant & Bar Award, due to be announced in Barcelona next month.

High Tech Design Innovation

CTRL Space worked together with its clients and Complete Construction. High technology has been incorporated throughout the venue, boasting large scale curved displays, able to play multiple sports feeds at once, in multiple directions, as well as an Autex acoustic ceiling, disguised as architectural timber rafters, to support a premium audio experience.

Beyond innovation and technology, the interior and exterior spaces have been designed to meet the brief for a sophisticated, vibrant and memorable environment. The character of the existing building has been refined and achieves an architectural feeling that is solid and robust, while at the same time couples comfort and softness to create a winning combination for Full Time patrons.

Natural materials commonly found in New Zealand architecture have been incorporated in tasteful combinations and applications. Timber slatted exterior banquettes with generous upholstered seat pads offer premium comfort and full swing doors opening out to the courtyard create the ultimate indoor-outdoor flow.. Sports paraphernalia creates compelling displays to emphasise sporting culture and help to deliver a visually momentous experience, while maintaining qualities of familiarity and innate casualness which Kiwis know and love.

CTRL Space Project Detail

Sam Griffin, Creative Director for CTRL Space said that the team felt a great responsibility when designing this space. He says, “sport and sports-fandom is a huge part of our country’s culture. We wanted to create an environment that could be enjoyed by the vast numbers of passionate Warriors & sports fans who will come to enjoy the hospitality of Full Time, a space that can become a celebration of sport (win or lose) and a hub for the sports-loving community to connect.”

Shane Don, General Manager for Full Time Sports, was impressed with the quality of work delivered by CTRL Space. He said “their attention to detail throughout this entire project is what sets them apart from others. Their passion and open and frank conversations are a recipe for success for any client. They have been an integral part of delivering our strategy to create New Zealand’s best sports bar.”