Birdcage Tavern ready for business

The former Birdcage Tavern is back on its original site and seeking new occupants. Photo / Supplied

The first new occupant to reinhabit an historic Auckland hotel has moved in.

Level one of the 126-year-old Birdcage Tavern, formerly the Rob Roy Hotel, has been leased to commercial tenants Jackson Engineering Advisors.

The firm on Monday moved into the Franklin Rd building, which was shifted 44m up the street, then back again to allow a $230 million traffic tunnel to be built.

Nathan Male, of retail leasing specialists Metro Commercial, said the Birdcage had undergone changes as the job neared completion.

He is marketing the ground floor area of the building, which now stands directly above the cut-and-cover tunnel where thousands of cars travel daily.

"The shrink wrap, which had enveloped the building for so long, was removed this month to reveal the rejuvenated building and the scaffolding came down last week," he said.

The hotel is owned by New Zealand Transport Agency.

Metro is the leasing agent for the ground floor hospitality space and Male said he was working with a number of parties who had expressed interest in shifting in.

A plaza area in front of the hotel will be finished and returned to public use in the next few weeks.