Arrowtown's feast finds its feet
The Arrowtown Long Table is officially back on the calendar.
Formerly managed by the Arrowtown Promotion and Business Association, You Gather Events' Laura and Campbell Ross last year took ownership of the long-standing event, first held in 2010.
Given the challenges the event faced due to rising costs associated with consents and infrastructure, the couple, who also run the Arrowtown Gin Festival, cancelled last year's event.
But Campbell tells Mountain Scene it's "all go" this year, and making its rebranded comeback on December 5.
While they've lost some restaurants — Provisions, The Fork and Tap and Bendix Stables — they've added Swiftsure, Little Aosta and Royalburn in association with Queenstown Catering, while Smoke and Pickle will also be operating from the Athenaeum Hall, "just so we can cater for everyone's budgets as well".
Campbell says they're looking at capacity of between 600 and 700, once again spread down the length of Buckingham St, but this year without some of the fencing which was required to pen guests in during the 2023 event, instead increasing security.
"We've had our meetings with the council, which has been great and successful and they're on the same page, thankfully."
Campbell says they took onboard feedback from the last event and have been given the green light to use "proper glass" this year, instead of plastic wine glasses.
And, in more good news, the ticket prices will drop.
"It used to be $80 and we've dropped it down to about $67.
"That certainly helps the budget, and hopefully makes more people come along.
"We've got some awesome new partners involved in terms of alcohol [Peroni Nasto Assuro, Aperol Spritz and wine partner Kinross], and some good entertainment lined up for the main street, too."
He expects the full restaurant lineup will be released around early-August, via arrowtownlongtable.co.nz, with tickets going on sale at the end of next month.
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