The Lumsden Free House is a craft beer bar on Khyber Pass Road in Newmarket, describing itself as the home of craft beer in the area. It's a cool and laid-back local with 15 taps of rotating local brews, craft beer and cider bottles and cans, and one of the largest Bourbon selections in Auckland, with music playing and a few ideas and concepts around the bar that are a little bit different.
Beyond the drinks, The Lumsden runs a food menu, cocktail list and wine list, plus a pool room the bar has called "Newmarket's sexiest." It regularly hosts events - dark beer and fresh oyster sessions, sports screenings like FIFA World Cup matches, Warriors Nation gamedays, and a Friday Express Lunch deal pairing a gourmet pie with a pint from Auckland craft brewer Urbanaut.
The Lumsden Free House sits on Khyber Pass Road in Newmarket, describing itself plainly as the home of craft beer in the area. It's built as a cool, laid-back local rather than a polished cocktail bar, with a few ideas and concepts around the place that are just a little bit different from the standard Newmarket bar.
At the centre of The Lumsden is its drinks range: 15 taps of rotating local craft brews, backed up by craft beer and cider in bottles and cans. Alongside beer, the bar carries one of the largest Bourbon selections in Auckland, giving it a point of difference beyond the tap list. A dedicated cocktail menu and wine list round out the drinks side for anyone not there for beer or bourbon.
The Lumsden runs its own food menu alongside the drinks, and has become known for specific offers - most notably its Friday Express Lunch deal, pairing a gourmet pie with a pint from Auckland craft brewer Urbanaut, running from midday to 3pm. The bar has also run seasonal sessions pairing dark beer with fresh oysters, leaning into the kind of casual, food-and-drink-matched events that suit its laid-back identity.
Beyond food and drink, The Lumsden has a pool room on site - self-described, tongue-in-cheek, as "Newmarket's sexiest." The bar also plays host to sports screenings, having opened early for major football fixtures like a FIFA World Cup Final, and runs themed event nights, including Warriors Nation gamedays for rugby league fans.
The Lumsden plays music throughout service, contributing to the relaxed, local-pub feel the bar is going for, rather than positioning itself as a late-night club or a formal restaurant. It's a space designed for settling in, whether that's over a rotating tap beer, a bourbon, or a round of pool.
The bar keeps an active events calendar and social media presence, posting regularly about upcoming sessions, sports screenings and deals. Following The Lumsden on Instagram or Facebook is the most direct way to catch upcoming events like themed gamedays or seasonal food and drink pairings.
The Lumsden Free House is open 7 days a week, from 11:30am until late, at 444 Khyber Pass Road, Newmarket. For anyone after a genuine craft beer selection, a serious bourbon list, and a bit of local character - pool table included - The Lumsden covers that brief in the heart of Newmarket.