Barmy Army HQ racing to beat kick-off

Hamish MacPherson, one of the directors of Elite Entertainment, whose licence for the Barmy Army headquarters at Viaduct Harbour allows the company to serve 6100 people a day. Picture / Greg Bowker

One 50-litre keg every forty seconds. That is what the bars will be capable of churning out during the next 16 days at the Barmy Army headquarters at Viaduct Harbour.

Workers will finish building at the Halsey St venue today just in time for the official public opening at 4pm.

They started at midnight on Wednesday, having been given just two days to set up in accordance with the resource consent to use the venue.

Elite Entertainment, the company hosting the event, has an alcohol licence allowing it to serve 6100 patrons a day.

Company director Tony Stevenson said he was excited about the event.

"I'm really rapt. And it's not just for Lions fans, but for New Zealanders and ex-pats too."

The venue has three bars and will have more than 1000 kegs on the site at any given time.

Staff were putting in the final touches yesterday to a pontoon which will give patrons easy access to the venue from Te Wero Island. They were also setting up an activity area with rock-climbing and jelly wrestling.

The Barmy Army venue has not been without controversy, having to fight to be able to use the 10 sheds after local residents raised concerns.