Hamilton pledges nightlife and pick-ups

Feel like picking someone up tonight? Then head to Hamilton.

Bar staff in the city say hundreds of Aucklanders have already discovered the Waikato nightlife, but Auckland bar managers say they didn't know Hamilton had any.

Tourism Waikato has spent $40,000 running radio adverts encouraging "lazy city slickers" to make the trek over the Bombay Hills. Touted activities include Hamilton's nightlife for 18- to 25-year-olds.

Marketing manager Lyn O'Sullivan said that because Hamilton's pubs and clubs were in a small area it was easier and cheaper for people to get around.

Hamilton bar staff say Aucklanders are already travelling south because the city is more friendly and punters are more likely to pick up someone.

Outback general manager Darrel Hadley said Aucklanders were "guaranteed a good night out".

"In Auckland you might meet someone, get a phone number and go out for coffee. You come to Hamilton for a night out and you're more likely to pick up."

He said Hamilton was less pretentious than Auckland and the people friendlier. "In Auckland, they can't get past themselves."

Revert manager Kelly Grace, a former Aucklander, said a lot of her friends came to the city for weekends because it was cheaper, the people friendlier and the bars well laid out.

Auckland men tended to be more "hung up on things", she said

But Auckland bar manager Kane Clayton, who runs Lenin in the Viaduct, said he did not know Hamilton had a nightlife.

Rakinos bar manager Tessa Bate said Hamilton was "a long way to get a Dial-a-Driver back to Auckland".

Katie Rey, bar manager at Lime in Ponsonby, said Auckland was "a great pick-up place".