POST: At the front of the building, Holy Smoke will deliver a menu unlike anything else in the Manawatū.
The long-awaited rebirth of one of Palmerston North’s most iconic venues is almost here—bringing with it a top-tier nightclub, a unique smoked meat restaurant, and a fresh injection of energy into the city’s entertainment scene.
After almost two years of silence at the former The Daily site on Main Street, Ricky Quirk—the hospitality powerhouse behind George Hospitality Group—is set to open not one, but two brand-new venues.
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Holy Smoke: The City’s First Dedicated Smoked Meat Restaurant
At the front of the building, Holy Smoke will deliver a menu unlike anything else in the Manawatū. Specialising in smoked meats—slow-cooked, flavour-packed, and unique to the region—it will be a deliberate departure from the more casual, affordable menus found at Quirk’s other venues such as The Cobb and Hilltop.
“No-one else is doing smoked meat in this area. We’ve tapped out the traditional pub menu market—this is something fresh for Palmerston North,” says Quirk.
After months of construction delays caused by consent holdups, furniture is now being moved in and Holy Smoke is expected to welcome its first diners early next month.
Holy Grail: An Ultra-Modern Nightclub Like No Other
Out the back, down Berrymans Lane, sits the real showstopper—Holy Grail, an upmarket, ultra-modern nightclub set to open in November.
Quirk promises a venue unlike anything currently on offer in the region, complete with a high-end fit-out, cutting-edge lighting and sound systems, and a line-up of international acts.
“It’s the sort of thing you’d expect to see in Sydney. The Daily had run its course—we want to lift the whole quality of the nightclub experience,” he says.
The venue will have a cover charge, adding to its exclusive, premium feel.
Boosting Palmerston North’s Night Economy
The reactivation of the site will not only revive a key part of the city’s hospitality strip but could also help ease the weekend queues currently forming at Speedway Garage across the road—a live music hotspot that surged in popularity after The Daily closed.
While that wasn’t part of the original plan, Quirk acknowledges the new openings will create more choice and flow for patrons on busy nights.
Part of a Growing Hospitality Empire
These two openings further expand the George Hospitality Group’s footprint across Manawatū and Whanganui. The group’s existing portfolio includes:
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Trader McKendry’s
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Hilltop
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Neighbourhood
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Speedway Garage
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The Cobb and its upstairs cocktail bar Teacher Teacher
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The Farmer’s Son in Feilding
With the addition of Holy Smoke and Holy Grail, Quirk’s group continues to set the pace in the regional hospitality scene.
📅 Opening Dates:
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Holy Smoke: Early September 2025
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Holy Grail: November 2025
SOURCE: THE POST
