Long lunch sits well with fans | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

The rain held off and the only thing pouring was the rosé as 1000 diners tucked into a three-course meal at the 10th anniversary of the CJ Pask Great Long Lunch yesterday afternoon.

The lunch was under a cloud, and due to be moved to the National Tobacco Building in Ahuriri, because of a Metservice forecast of rain and gusty southeasterlies.

But Napier Inner City Marketing Manager Meg Rodel said she said took a "calculated risk" that the rain would hold off and apart from a brief shower it did.

Tickets to the event sold out in just five weeks last year.

The diners sat at tables, arranged in a semi circle around the garden and 250m long. They were treated to entertainment from a stage set up on the grass in the middle of the garden including rockabilly band Black Snapper played.

Punters were still dancing at 5pm as the lunch started to wind down.

The meal was created by Wellington restaurateurs Al Brown and Steve Logan and included cured salmon for the entree and braised lamb for the main.

Napier residents Tony and Lynda Pipe sat down with Angela and Tony McKee to enjoy the lunch.

Mrs Pipe said it was their first time and a "virginal experience" for the group.

Pointing towards a crowd walking on the sidewalk and taking photographs of the lunch, she said she was once a "rubbernecker".

"I've thought about attending and wandered along the footpath and thought how nice it would be to be here."

Mrs McKee said the menu was "exciting" and pointed towards the Wasabi custard.

Mr Pipe, a Napier City Councillor, said Hawke's Bay had "come out to party".

Veteran lunchers Janice Corbishley, who has attended eight times, and Rachael Hammon, five times, had dressed up for the lunch.

Ms Corbishley said she was pleased the event was able to go ahead at the gardens. "This is the venue for it," she said, with Ms Hammon adding that Marine Pde was an "iconic"spot for the lunch.

Mrs Rodel said she planned to "take it to another level" next year and had already started work on the entertainment.