(All interviews completed before the recent lockdown.)
SPQR
A colourful history
Founded by cinematographer Stuart Dryburgh and filmmaker Dorthe Scheffmann in 1992, SPQR opened as an income stream to support filmmaking and quickly became a place for film crews to let loose after hours. The business took over a now-coveted central Ponsonby Road space from a motorbike workshop and was always destined to be a charismatic spot. Despite changes in ownership – Stuart and Dorthe sold to Kelvin Gibson (current co-owner of Prego), Anthony Evans and Chris Rupe in 1995; Chris took over with Paula Mack and then for the last two years has owned the restaurant solo – it’s never lost its over-the-top, sexy, slightly brash magic or stopped welcoming patrons from all walks of life.
In the early 1990s, Ponsonby was just becoming the liberal stronghold it is today. SPQR was a definite gay icon – with a tradition of hiring drag queens on their days off and proudly camp décor. “In the start it was pretty much a bar, really, with a food offering,” says current owner Chris. “It started when everyone was just coming out – we were really gay-friendly, there were a lot of transgender people about, and that was something new for Auckland back in those times.”
He remembers a colourful time. “It was flamboyant – bottles of champagne, going around town in taxis, all-night dancing, a lot of Red Bull, raves, it was a lot of fun,” he chuckles. “We had a lot of SPQR parties, leather parties, New York parties, lounge parties. What was good about SPQR to start with was that you didn’t necessarily have to eat something although food was available – you could just come and drink and have a good time.”
Today, a little of that spirit remains, although there isn’t quite so much dancing on the bar. SPQR remains gay-friendly, although many of the original regulars have moved away or settled down. It’s also still a place to see and be seen, with a single afternoon bringing in everyone from local MPs to television celebrities. Whether in the dimly-lit, moody interior, or at one of the tables outside, guests have the perfect vantage point to watch Ponsonby Road go by and soak up the ambience of a bustling central street.
The famous white tablecloths on the outdoor tables came about as a way to balance out the darkness of the
