Three Mount Maunganui bars: Astrolabe, Rosie O'Grady's and Breakers, closed this week.

Breakers and Rosie O'Grady's occupy the former Anchor Inn building on the corner of Maunganui Road and Rata Street.

Astrolabe is closed.

The Astrolabe at the west end of the downtown area is expecting to reopen in spring after a major refurbishment

Astrolabe director Bryan Potter says it's a refurbishment that is going to take some time because it is a major one.

'I don't want to get into any situation that gives an idea of what's going to happen other than to say it is going to be a major refurbishment and reconstruction,” says Bryan.

'A rather precious part of our site is the outdoor area, and that's going to be an area of focus – it's going to be opening with a fanfare.

'The timeline is for it to be November. We have closed, we will be reopening and we just have to leave it at that at the moment, and wait for the sizzle to start showing itself.”

The former post office has been operating as the Astrolabe bar and restaurant for 16 years.

Directors of Hastings based Breakers Restaurants Ltd could not be contacted for comment.
Mount Maunganui Mainstreet manager Leanne Brown says the closures are not connected with the Mount base track being closed since January, or with the closure of the Mount Hot Pools.

'The only businesses that suffered are at the base of the Mount,” says Leanne.

'It has a small effect on businesses here – today, there so many people around it's incredible.

'I did wonder with the track being open today there might have been a rush of people coming to enjoy it, but weather wise it's not been the best day.”