SOL Square

A Virtual Attraction

This is the site of possibly the most troubled hospitality venture in Christchurch’s inner city, plagued by issues for a decade before it finished in flames.

Controversial developer David Henderson saw potential in this Victorian backstreet brick warehouse to form a bohemian cafe corner, where culture, gastronomy and music might rise gracefully within the brick clad courtyards. He named it SOL, meaning South of Lichfield (street), breaking new ground on the entertainment circuit.

The dream took flight in the early 2000s, and initially seemed to succeed, with hospitality tenants moving in and the area gaining popularity as a destination. Eateries upstairs and down included a Tapas Bar, bistros, and a boutique brewery.

But Henderson’s businesses suffered their own seismic shifts long before the rest of Canterbury, with financial ups and downs beginning in 2009. SoL kept partying until the earthquakes, but then it all fell down, physically and economically. While a court battle over ownership and debts ensued, street-kids moved into the broken building, then set it on fire. In August 2016 a 15 year old was charged with lighting the final fire and Henderson described himself as ‘a tad upset’. What remained of the 2157-square metre site went to auction in November 2016.

A dream, a reality, a success, a failure, a pile of rubble, a raging fire and a dispute in court, such was the lifecycle of the square south of Lichfield.