Lonestar heads to Lakesyde (+video)

Lonestar Rotorua owner Andy Allan has confirmed he will relocate his restaurant to the new Lakesyde Development on Whakaue St.

In February, Mr Allan told the Rotorua Daily Post he had signed up to occupy part of the new Lakesyde complex, but was unsure whether he would relocate his current business or open up new ones.

"It's definitely going to be Lonestar. We made the final decision in the last few weeks."

Lonestar is moving to Whakaue St to be closer to the restaurant action. Photo / Ben Fraser

Mr Allan said he wasn't sure when he'd move, and had some obligations to his current landlord, which he was working through.

"We'd like it to be by the end of the year but I'm mindful the year is ticking on now. At best [we'd like to be in] by the end of the year but if it does tick into 2017 it's not all bad."

Mr Allan said the new facility would be a similar size to the current Lonestar on the corner of Arawa and Amohia Sts but would provide more outdoor dining and be raised up with views across the village green. "I can definitely see the merits in moving down that way. There has been a lot of momentum created by Eat Streat."

Lakesyde developer Tony Bradley said work was progressing well but it was too early to know when the development would open.

"It's tracking along well right now," he said.

Jo Romanes from the Blue Baths outside her new project, a modern NewZealand-style restaurant in the former Pizza Hutt premises near the Lakefront. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

Also developing a new business at the lake end of the city was Blue Baths managing director Jo Romanes, who bought the old Pizza Hut building in Rotorua with plans to turn it into a restaurant. It's a fantastic location, close to Eat Streat and the Lakefront, with all day sun and the space to grow some of our own produce on site, particularly herbs, edible flowers and some of the more unusual heritage vegetables.

Ms Romanes said the new restaurant would serve modern New Zealand cuisine with an emphasis on sustainable produce and innovation.

"I hope our guests will enjoy the open kitchen, a monochromatic, slightly industrial decor and a back-story that links the premise to Rotorua's tourism story - and to its big sister, the Blue Baths."

She said they were working towards opening on September 1, the first day of spring. It was an exciting time at Blue Baths, she added.