The Savoy – Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
I pushed on up Princes Street as the light morning rain gave way to a stunning hue of pink. I passed restaurants, cafes and bars that wouldn’t yet open for many hours. There were takeaway outlets, barbers and art galleries that sat in darkness and faded blue and red dots of all shapes and sizes covered the road. I came to a stop on the corner of an intersection and watched time pass in the city. Directly across me, the Savoy Restaurant which was once considered the finest dining room in the Southern Hemisphere sat beneath a sky that continued to shift and changed in colour.
I worked as a grill chef at this restaurant in 1966. At the time it was owned by Jack Dimond and his family. So sad to see it is no longer. I recall many celebrities visiting for a meal. One such person I grilled for was Selwyn Toogood, who exclaimed it was the best steak he had ever eaten. I was chuffed. I called at Dunedin recently on a cruise ship. I hadn’t been back to Dunedin for 50 years or so and was horrified at how successive City Councils had altered the architectural character of the CBD. Still great to hear the pipes and drums though.
Thanks for sharing this Darrell, I really enjoyed reading it. It’s amazing how many memories a place like the Savoy can hold for people. I can just imagine the atmosphere it must have had in its heyday, especially with visitors arriving by ship and dining there as part of the Dunedin experience. It’s a shame so much of the character of the CBD has changed over the years, though buildings like the Savoy still hint at that earlier era. Thanks again for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful comment
The Savoy building is a grand old lady now and could tell some amazing tales