The opening of new venue DropKicks has been a sticky subject after two community groups opposed Loboski Venues Ltd.’s liquor licence application. Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) are one. Critic Te Ārohi can now reveal that the other group are Bede and Elspeth Crestani, the parents of Sophia Crestani, an Otago student who died in an overcrowded 2019 flat party.
On August 12th, Critic Te Ārohi reported that a new venue called DropKicks would be opening above Sal’s Pizza on the corner of Great King and Albany St. The venue has been described by some as a “landmark” music venue where the iconic Captain Cook Hotel once was. Most recently, it was occupied by Dive Bar.
Critic’s article was based on a DCC notice that was pasted on the door to the building inviting the public to have their say on the owners’ liquor licence application, closing August 21st. Meaning, the objection period for the application was still ongoing. Critic Te Ārohi confirmed the opening of the venue by finding their website which stated: “The Dunedin city culture is something that has suffered over the past few years and we are here to do our part, to bring our city back to its former glory!”
People were pretty hyped at the news of a fresh venue on the horizon. The post received widespread attention on Critic’s Facebook page. As of the time of writing, there are 500 reacts, 41 comments, and 17 shares. Comments of enthusiastic support included an emphatic “FRICK YEAH!” from Max Came, student and lead singer of the band Hot Sauce Club.
DropKicks’ opening was delayed, however, when two community groups objected to their liquor licence application. SSDP are a group with their fingers in many pies – this isn’t their first rodeo when it comes to local liquor licensing involvement. They’ve thrown their support behind various licence renewal applications including Moons, Eureka, Woof!, Carousel, and Residency – whose application they also supported in fast-tracking to make sure it was open for Flo and O Week at the beginning of the year.
Equally, SSDP has also made their disapproval of liquor licences clear in the past. They’re perhaps most well-known for their hand in stopping Eleven Bar from getting theirs renewed last year following revelations about the bar’s mismanagement. One worker was quoted by Critic calling it “the most cooked place I’ve ever worked.” Since then, however, it seems they’ve been on a bit of a spree, opposing multiple supermarkets’ licence – and even the Uni’s.
Now following their objection to DropKicks, SSDP explained to Critic, “Of course SSDP wants well-managed and financially stable student bars back; and once they’re back, we want them to stay. We’ve been arguing for years now that student bars, and Dunedin’s live music scene, are essential elements to address the crisis of alcohol harm experienced everday [sic] by Otago Students.”
SSDP accused Loboski Venues Ltd. of being an “unsuitable” applicant based on “their attempt to ‘steam-roll’ due process by announcing their venue and booking gigs before they had a licence; and evidence including issues of overcrowding and poor alcohol control resulting in excessive intoxication at another venue they operate.” They couldn’t comment further until the hearing, where evidence will be presented from all relevant parties.
The second group objecting to DropKicks’ on-licence application are Bede and Elspeth Crestani, the parents of Sophia Crestani. Since the tragic death of their daughter at a 2019 flat party, the Crestani parents have actively worked to make North Dunedin a safer place for students.
Earlier this year, there was a five-day inquest into Sophia’s death. At the inquest, Dunedin’s alcohol harm prevention officer Sergeant Ian Paulin mentioned how successive closures of licensed venues, including the student bar Captain Cook – the very venue DropKicks now hopes to occupy – had created an environment of flat parties which were difficult to control.
Critic Te Ārohi interviewed Bede last week, who explained his reasons for objecting to DropKicks’ licence. He prefaced the chat by saying he would be willing to “turn an objection around into support” if Loboski Venues Ltd. was able to prove they could “meet standard safety conditions.”
Bede shared SSDP’s concerns about Loboski Venues Ltd. alleging that at their other venue, Errick’s, they had knowingly exceeded capacity on at least one occasion. He also backed SSDP’s disapproval that the promotion for the venue had come out “a bit early” and that they should “respect the processes to get a licence, same as everybody else has to comply with and just let these things work through.”
Bede went as far as to call SSDP “a courageous group of young people”. While SSDP’s objections have drawn some criticism from peers – with some students disappointed over DropKick’s delay in opening on social media taking jabs such as calling the group “a bunch of wobblers” – Bede said, “It feels like they’re swimming against the Dunedin model of ‘just booze it’ [...] they are the heroes of Dunedin, in my mind.”
On a personal note relating to his objection, Bede said, “When it comes down to it, Sophia died for two reasons: massively excess alcohol and drugs at a party and serious crowding. She died because of crush. We would just hate to see that happen to a student again.” He reiterated that it’s not student bars that they have a problem with: “We 100% support student bars. We 100% support music at venues, and we think that Dunedin has really been badly served by not enough music venues or student bars.”
While both objecting parties are more or less on the same wavelength, a unique aspect of SSDP’s objection that’s raised an eyebrow, however, was their claim that Lobsoki Venues Ltd. was also unsuitable based on the fact that “the Applicant is a company with a sole director, and she’s 25 – there's no way you can have the expertise and experience to know how to safely run a Dunedin student bar at 25.” Because God forbid a young woman be a successful businesswoman.
The woman in question, Mili Lobo, addressed this accusation in her letter of support for the DropKicks’ licence application: “[...] yes, I am a young female, yes, I am an active mother, and this does not make me any less of a suitable licensee holder or dedicated, proper and passionate business holder.” She goes on to describe her background as a businesswoman, starting at the age of 19 and growing a portfolio of six businesses, “all while balancing the demands of being a young mother and women [sic] in business.”
As for her “why” behind DropKicks, Mili explains: “My vision for the student bar is not just about providing a space to socialise; it’s about establishing a venue where safety and well-being are prioritised. I am dedicated to implementing harm minimisation interventions as a standard practice, ensuring that every aspect of the bar contributes to a secure and positive environment for all patrons.”
Part of the kaupapa of DropKicks is dedicated to providing a space for students to enjoy live music, which Mili says is one of the most effective alcohol harm minimisation interventions we have available. “There is a dire need in North Dunedin for bars that offer harm minimisation approaches (of which live music is a key one). With DropKicks we want to offer a safer option to people to enjoy live music and entertainment,” Mili wrote. “As with my other venues, alcohol is not at the forefront of this business.”
In direct response to allegations made by the Crestanis, Mili told Critic, “I am confident that if any person that has concerns about me personally and my businesses took the time to speak to me, they would feel comfort in what we are trying to achieve for Dunedin. They might also understand further the struggles we have faced with Errick’s and the processes we have been through [...] we work with many other community groups, businesses, advisors, individuals to always better what we are doing. My hope would be that these groups who are in doubt about us, take the time to work with us on working towards our mutual hope for our city.”
Learning of DropKicks’ mission statement, Bede told Critic, “That’s a great mission […] it would be nice to turn an objection around into support if we can see that they’ve really got a good connection and will manage that situation safely […] it would be brilliant.” A hearing for the on-licence application for DropKicks will be held in early October where each party will have an opportunity to present evidence in front of the district licensing committee.