The Fitz 2 Sports Bar sits on Stevens Street at the corner of Wilson Road in Waltham, Christchurch, directly across from Lancaster Park — a spot that has made it a natural gathering point for local sports fans. The bar is the proud home of the Lancaster Cricket Club, and on any given day you'll find players, supporters and neighbours catching up over drinks and a meal.
Inside, it's a proper neighbourhood sports bar: a well-stocked bar pouring beers, house cocktails and everything in between, a kitchen turning out a Smoke House menu alongside Kiwi Classics, and plenty to keep hands busy between rounds with pool tables, darts and pokie machines.
The week has its own rhythm here. A rolling line-up of events — quiz nights, poker nights and karaoke — gives regulars a reason to come back midweek, while weekends lean into sport, celebrations and functions.
Beyond the bar trade, The Fitz 2 doubles as an events venue. A dedicated function room equipped with its own bar and generous space makes it a genuine option for birthdays, work dos, club prizegivings and private celebrations of any size — not just after-work drinks or post-match sessions.
On Stevens Street in Waltham, right across from Lancaster Park, The Fitz 2 Sports Bar occupies one of those locations every neighbourhood wishes it had. When the cricket is on, the crowd practically walks itself through the door. Little wonder the bar has become the home of the Lancaster Cricket Club — players, supporters and locals all treat it as the natural last stop after a day at the park.
But The Fitz 2 is quick to point out that it isn't only for after-work drinks or post-sports celebrations. It positions itself as an all-occasion hangout, and the week's calendar backs that up.
The kitchen runs two menus that cover the bases. The Smoke House Menu is the headline act — a dedicated smokehouse selection that gives the bar a food identity well beyond standard pub nibbles. Alongside it, the Kiwi Classics menu delivers the familiar favourites people expect from a proper local.
Behind the bar, the drinks list goes beyond the usual taps. A House Cocktails list means you can settle in with something mixed, whether you're marking a win or just easing into the evening. And with hours running from 10am through to late most days, the bar covers lunch through to nightcap territory.
A sports bar lives or dies on what there is to do between drinks, and The Fitz 2 keeps its regulars busy. Pool tables and darts are permanent fixtures, and pokie machines are there for anyone feeling lucky.
The weekly line-up gives each night its own character. The Believe It or Not Quiz brings out the trivia teams, poker night draws the card players, and karaoke night hands over the microphone to anyone brave enough. Event promotions run through the week and across the weekend, so there's usually something happening beyond the standard pull-up-a-stool evening.
One of The Fitz 2's real strengths is its function room — a dedicated private space equipped with its own bar. That combination matters: it means a birthday, work do, club prizegiving or wake can run on its own terms without taking over the main bar, and guests aren't queuing at the same counter as the Tuesday-night quiz crowd.
The team invites enquiries for any occasion, and bookings can be made by phone, email or the contact form on the website.
The vibe The Fitz 2 describes for itself is simple: excitement, great food and unbeatable vibes, with staff who want you to leave with a smile and lasting memories. In practice, that translates to a friendly, unpretentious local where sport is on, the kitchen is turning out smokehouse plates, and the regulars have their usual spots.
It's the kind of place that works equally well for a quiet afternoon pint, a rowdy quiz team, a poker night or a full-scale private function. Across from Lancaster Park and anchored by the Lancaster Cricket Club, The Fitz 2 Sports Bar has made itself a genuine hub for the Waltham and Phillipstown end of Christchurch.
**The essentials:** 77 Stevens Street, Waltham, Christchurch. Open Monday 10am–10pm, and Tuesday to Sunday 10am–11pm. Phone (03) 261 4167 or email [email protected].