Full Breakdown
Gypsy Tea Room to Close: End of an Iconic Grey Lynn Bar
5/19/2026, 2:28:09 AM
Closing of a Two-Decade Institution
The Gypsy Tea Room, a Grey Lynn landmark, will serve its final drinks at the end of August 2024. Owner Brett Simeti announced the closure after Barfoot & Thompson, the property’s new owner, began redevelopment plans for the historic building.
Lease History and Ownership Changes
Simeti assumed control in 2004, marking the back-room with a Samoan-heritage tattoo. A 2018 caveat to protect a verbal lease was withdrawn in 2019 “in good faith” hoping a buyer would respect the lease. Barfoot & Thompson bought the Grey Lynn site in October 2021, promising to “breathe new life” and later detailing restoration of historic features and expansion for retail and office use. The developer then offered a next-door location, which Simeti rejected as unsuitable.
Staff, Operations, and Numbers
Gypsy employs 11 staff across its Grey Lynn venue and the Elbow Room. Simeti expects a 50 % workforce cut as the bar closes, calling his team “my children.”
Community Significance
The Gypsy Tea Room has been called a “mixing pot of people,” serving tradies, families, and celebrities such as Taika Waititi and Kate Beckinsale. Regulars and Simeti’s Samoan-heritage tattoo underscore his view of the bar as a piece of home. Its worn red booth and stools have hosted locals and A-list guests alike, cementing its role as a communal gathering place.
Official Statements & Responses
Barfoot & Thompson said it has been “honest with Gypsy” and outlined a plan to restore historic features while adding retail and office space. Simeti said the decision was “not made lightly,” noting relocation “would not be the same” and stressing his duty to staff.
Criticism & Opposition
Simeti rejected Barfoot’s next-door offer, saying the new site would lack the bar’s character. He described the closure as a personal loss, likening it to “splitting up his family” and emphasizing that moving next door would not preserve the bar’s character.
Verbatim Quotes
- “They’re my children in a way, you know, without being condescending ... I’m like a parent a lot of times, you have to look at it that way because you’re looking after them [staff], helping them out in their lives.” — Brett Simeti
- “I think everyone sees something different in this place ... but to everyone, it’s a piece of home.” — Brett Simeti
- “I think we’ve weathered the trends, we’ve adapted little by little as we’ve gone along, but not lost the essence of what makes this place, you know, the Gypsy Tea Room.” — Brett Simeti
- “It just would not be the same. This place is our home, not next door.” — Brett Simeti
What’s Next
Barfoot & Thompson plans to renovate the building, preserving its historic elements while adding new retail and commercial office space.
