New Regent Street is a 100-metre-long pedestrian mall in Central Christchurch, built in the early 1930s with 40 shops in a Spanish Mission architectural style. The mall concept was advanced at the time, providing many small shops in a comprehensive private development. The buildings survived the earthquakes of the early 2010s reasonably well and are a significant tourist attraction today. The tram runs along the narrow street next to outdoor cafes and bar seating. The street is in the central city, between Armagh Street at its north end and Gloucester Street on its south side. Cathedral Square is one block over to the southwest.
A group of businessmen led by Arthur Francis Stacey proposed a new street with a Spanish theme to the Christchurch City Council's town planning committee around 1929. The project was approved in principle by the city in February 1930. The developers wanted to name it Regent Street, after London's Regent Street. The original was the first planned street in London, built between 1814 and 1825. However, there was already a Regent Street in Sydenham and New Regent Street was chosen.
A notable feature of the street was a 400-lamp lighting system. When this system was first tested, hundreds of people turned out to see it. The street opened during the Great Depression, and eventually, the developers had to sell off the individual stores. The road was transferred to public ownership after WWII. The tramline has been a feature since 1995.
Visiting the street is fun at any time of the day, as it has a variety of shops, cafes, bars, and restaurants. In the evening, the street is lit up with colourful lighting displays.
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