When a group of mates wanted a mountain biking clubroom that doubled as a brewery, the vibes were bound to be good. While the original scheme has evolved, the outcome is a charming hub; a place for community to converge in a common place, revelling in tempting food, independent shopping and a welcoming ambiance.
Andrew and Amanda Sharpe are the driving force and public faces behind the syndicate of five friends who co-own The Common, a delightful café on Akaroa’s Rue Lavaud. More than a mere café, this is a substantial block of land that includes a turn-of-the-century weatherboard cottage and Akaroa’s first Presbyterian church. Built in 1860, the church’s life as a place of worship was short-lived. However, Andrew and Amanda have restoration plans in place that will honour its architectural heritage, adding to the thriving precinct that has fast become a firm favourite among locals and visitors alike.
Originally from West Melton, but bach owners in Akaroa, Andrew and Amanda had a Christchurch-based business leasing kegs. When the opportunity arose to buy the parcel of land, buildings and café that would bring them permanently to Akaroa, Amanda swung through the full range of emotions. The excitement of opportunity, including the challenge of a restoration and renovation project, won her over. While their eldest son, James, had already left school, the younger three, Emily, Max and Sam, cheerily left their Christchurch school, settled into the seaside lifestyle that Akaroa offers, and never looked back.
Unbeknown to the Sharpes, The Common proved to have historical family connections. Andrew is a descendant of the de Malmanche family who sailed into Akaroa on the Compte de Paris ship in 1840 – mere months after Te Tiriti o Waitangi was signed, rendering New Zealand a British colony and dashing French hopes of a settlement in the South Pacific. In a quirky coincidence, The Common is the site of the home of captain of the ship, Captain Lavaud.
Tackling the renovation of a tired café and a decrepit former backpackers wasn’t for the faint-hearted. Amanda laughs, ‘We love renovating and we love a project. It’s got to be a really good project. The worse it is, the more exciting for us.’ However, for the Sharpes, the state of the precinct was also a reflection of a fatigued Akaroa that had lost its mojo catering to the tourists who spilled off the cruise ships that moored in Akaroa Harbour until 2022. The cruise ships are largely gone now, and Andrew believes, ‘The cruise ships damaged the social fabric of Akaroa. We saw The Common as an opportunity to enhance it again for locals and travellers. Our driver was to improve the infrastructure for locals in a good-quality place, every day.’
Today, The Common is a welcoming café that feels like home. Amanda led the renovation. Unafraid to get her hands dirty, she got stuck in, even hanging the signature wallpaper that graces the walls. Sassy green tiles add luminosity and texture, while shades of green paint warm the space. Ironically, Amanda is a perfectionist, but it’s the perfectly imperfect ethos that she strived for – and she has nailed it! Even the menu is a reflection of Amanda and Andrew’s eclectic style.
The Common is open for brunch every day and also has a gorgeous selection of cabinet food to go with their Prima Roastery fairtrade organic coffee. The Thai chefs are encouraged to cook to their strengths and while they whip up some banging Thai classics, the cheesy puffs, squid and burgers are equally exceptional!
Next door in the old weatherboard cottage, the renovation was a restoration project. Formerly a tatty backpackers, stripping the cottage to reveal matchstick linings, original sarking and earliest wallpaper was a labour of love and hard slog. Now, however, it’s home to a collective of independent shops, including Andrew and Amanda’s art gallery, The Captain’s Quarter, curated and managed by Banks Peninsula local, Kath Macdonald. This intimate gallery exhibits work by artists from across Banks Peninsula and supports a varied range of media and genre, including artisan jewellery and ceramics.
Described by one Google reviewer as ‘Bliss in a building’, the cottage is also home to independent bookshop The Good Story, and a delightful cake shop owned by Katey Thew-Thin, The Cake Room, which is akin to stepping back in time. Fine bone china cups and saucers line the shelves and an array of exquisite cakes and cupcakes entice visitors. Having returned to New Zealand from Australia’s Sunshine Coast 18 months ago, Katey is an experienced chef and baker. Baking fresh each day, her unique point of difference is her menu – she doesn’t have one! Instead, Katey bakes according to seasonal produce, ladening her cakes with freshly picked fruit. Black Doris plum cakes are popular, as are her rhubarb and strawberry Louise cakes. In fact, Katey even has customers bring their own fruit to be reimagined into one of her heavenly creations.
The Good Story is a vibrant booktopia. Shelves of titles burst with colour, complementing the effervescent owner, Leigh Hickey, and her excellent curation of great reads. An Akaroa local of 26 years, Leigh fronts The Good Story, but it’s a family affair. Husband Jed custom-made the shelving and their talented son Joe designed the lively logo. With its retro styling, it offers the quirkiness one loves in an independent bookshop, but it’s backed by genuine substance. The titles on offer are a nod to Leigh’s meticulous research into books that will appeal to a wide range of readers across all ages, backed with personal recommendations and excellent advice.
Visiting The Common precinct on a glorious midweek morning, it’s a hive of bustling activity. A group of local blokes meet for their daily coffee and chinwag, while day-trippers explore the cottage, enchanted by the independent shops and their bespoke offerings. There’s Akatrax beer on tap in the café, a subtle nod to the original idea of a brewery clubroom for mountain bikers, but the overwhelming sense is this place has achieved what Andrew and Amanda set out to create – a common hub for the whole community to enjoy.
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