Lyttelton's Volcano Cafe has turned twenty and after providing Cantabrians with two decades worth of whacky dining experiences, owners Peter Lewellyn and Lois Ogilvie are moving on. They decided to throw a Monday night party to mark the occasion. Well known New Zealand artist, Bill Hammond - a Volcano regular and Peter and Lois's neighbour - created the invitation (below); the Warratahs provided the music and some of New Zealand's top after dinner speakers - Joe Bennett, Jon Gadsby, Gary McCormick, Jim Hopkins - put in an appearance and were uncharacteristically quiet.
The Volcano is famous for its art-embellished walls. Some of New Zealand's top artists - Gavin Chilcott, Peter Robinson, Seraphine Pick, Tony de Latour, Dean Buchanan, Bill Hammond, Margaret Dawson, Gavin Buxton, Lynda James, Kirsty Grieg, Jason Grieg - have all either painted the walls or hung works in the restaurant. A huge Bill Hammond work - "The Volcano Flag" (below) - painted on half of an old WWI tent (the other half is in Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand), dominates the Lava Bar.We can only hope the new owners of The Volcano will continue its wonderful tradition of 'theatrical' dining and a healthy patronage of the arts.
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