Fat Eddie's

About this place

Fat Eddie's is a live music bar and eatery on Level 1 at 76 Hereford Street, in The Terrace precinct on the banks of the Avon River in central Christchurch. The venue describes itself as New Zealand's favourite live music venue and Christchurch's long-standing jazz bar, with musical acts programmed seven nights a week across a dance floor area, a lounge and a balcony.

The food and drink offer

The kitchen runs an American, Southern-influenced menu — fried chicken, ribs, tortillas, loaded fries, jalapeño poppers, wings, a range of beef, spiced chicken and battered cauliflower burgers, and American-style, pepperoni and smoked brisket pizzas. Share platters including sliders, rib dogs and corn dogs are offered for groups. The bar runs an extensive beverage list covering beer, spirits and classic and specialty cocktails.

Trading hours are Monday to Thursday 4.00pm until late, Friday and Saturday 12.00pm to 3.00am, and Sunday 12.00pm until late.

History and setting

Fat Eddie's began in Sol Square in the central city and was, by its own account, a Christchurch icon for more than two decades before the venue was damaged beyond repair in the 2011 earthquakes. It reopened in 2017 in a new building on the Avon riverside as part of The Terrace development, which replaced the earlier Oxford Terrace "Strip". The reopening came with a gentle rebrand around the Eddie persona — a New Orleans jazzman — on a logo based on the original bar's neon sign.

The venue shares its building with cocktail bar Kong and Italian restaurant Original Sin. All three were owned by The Oxford Group before being acquired by Australian Venue Co in 2025, and the site now operates under New Zealand Venue Co.

Functions, private events and MICE capability

Fat Eddie's is set up for events and publishes a downloadable functions pack. It advertises capacity for groups from 30 to 350 guests, and lists four bookable spaces:

• Venue Exclusive — private, listed at 360, with a full-size stage, wraparound balcony and private use of the bar; designed for stand-up, cocktail-style functions.
• The Lounge & Balcony — semi-private, listed at 140, combining the lounge with outdoor space.
• The Lounge — semi-private, listed at 100 and available for groups of 40 to 100, with booth seating and a clear view of the stage.
• Hereford Street Balcony — semi-private, listed at 50, an elevated space with street views, suited to smaller gatherings and cocktail parties.

The venue's own function filters cover conferences, meetings, corporate events, private dining, networking and Christmas functions, alongside social occasions.

With nightly live music, riverside balconies and whole-venue exclusive hire, Fat Eddie's is a practical fit for conference after-parties, welcome drinks, delegate social programmes and stand-up corporate functions in the central city.