Herald on Sunday's 5th birthday bash

Paul Holmes and Bill Francis at the Herald on Sunday's 5th birthday party. Photo / Getty Images

Mark Sainsbury is not moving to Q&A to replace Paul Holmes as erroneously reported in a tittle-tattle newsletter last Sunday. Both men were guests of honour at the Herald on Sunday's fifth birthday party at Sale St bar later that afternoon, where Holmesy, as one of the newspaper's most-loved columnists, played the role of master of ceremonies.

And he excelled. With the 650-strong audience in the palm of his hand, Holmesy regaled stories about the Herald on Sunday's stronghold in the media over the past five years.

Most of the paper's columnists came along to celebrate from Matt McCarten, Deborah Coddington, Wendyl Nissen, Richard Loe, Geoff Thomas, Peter Williams, Deborah Hill-Cone and Kerre Woodham who sang her own saucy version of Happy Birthday that would have put Marilyn Monroe to shame.

Some well-known pals dropped in to raise a glass and toast to our success, including His Worship, Mayor John Banks, Paul Little, Simon Bridges, Susan Wood, Jesse Mulligan, Jo Cotton, Cameron Brewer, Aja Rock, Candy Lane, Opshop frontman Jason Kerrison and former Hello Sailor guitarist Dave McArtney who now performs with the Pink Flamingos.

Many thanks must go to Simon Dallow's cousin Luke, who owns Sale St bar and restaurant, and his great team for their hospitality. The venue was fabulous and it's no wonder if was awarded the supreme winner last week at the Hospitality Association's Awards.

The food was outstanding and special thanks must go to Regal Salmon from Marlborough, Zest Gelatos and Nosh Fresh Food Market which recreated a mini Nosh gourmet deli inside our party for guests to sample a taste extravaganza never seen before.

One celebrity blonde, who wants to remain anonymous, wasn't the only one who reckoned the uber good-looking Nosh chefs - Anthony Joseph, James Patterson and Ari Acton - were "a veeeery welcome attraction". We bet when the new Nosh store opens in Dominion Rd single ladies will be queuing to get in.

No party is complete without booze and we journos do love a knees-up. We chose wines from the fabulous Selaks winery: pinot gris, chardonnay, pinot noir, merlot cabernet, syrah and methode traditionnelle bubbly. We may have only turned five, but Selaks turns 75 this year!

Appreciation must also go to DB Breweries for their brand new Tui blond beer which kept one esteemed editor very happy, just saying.

Big thanks must also go to Jason Kerrison who proved only marginally better in the DJ stakes than our news editor (and George decks-spinner) Chris Reed. No, I'm not greasing. Deborah Pead from Pead PR and her team were invaluable.

The Red 11 models - Karn Hall, Annelise Burton and Michelle Carey - were gorgeous greeters at the front door; and the five cakes by Matthew Metcalfe from Icing on the Cake displaying our five favourite Herald on Sunday front covers proved very popular.

Pictured above: Paul Holmes and Bill Francis at the Herald on Sunday's 5th birthday party. Photo / Getty Images