Details
Also known as: Kadett Cafe, Doki Hair Salon
Location: 371 St Asaph Street, Central Christchurch
Current Status: Running!
Active as a live music venue: 2015 –
Bar Manager: Richard Sewell and Hamish Campbell
Bookings: spaceacademychch@gmail.com
Website: http://spaceacademy.ac.nz/
Capacity: Around 150?
All-Ages: Yes
Multi-use space on St Asaph Street, opposite the established Darkroom bar. With Doki Hair Saloon at the front, and running during the day as Kadett Cafe, Space Academy is a lively, spacious live music venue and bar from 4pm – 11pm every Tuesday till Saturday.
Every Tuesday through Saturday Mirabell and Gareth run the Cafe during the day before Richard and Hamish run the bar from 4pm, with Miki running the saloon at the front from 11am till 7pm.
Space Academy doesn’t just host live music though – a variety of performances plus movies and other events have taken place in the main venue, making use of the permanent PA system, bright decor and comfortable seating. Closing at just 11pm – forcing efficient running schedules, the venue harks back to the old days of the Dux de Lux.
One great aspect of Space Academy is their co-operation with established live music venue Darkroom, which is opposite Space Academy on the other side of St Asaph Street. The two venues have been known to put on joined shows, or accommodate each other to avoid conflicts etc.
Shows at Space Academy are easy to organize and run with minimal fuss – a straight forward two speaker PA with a control desk location fairly close to the performing area allows easy setup, the foyer area at the front of the venue is ideal for setting up a cover charge and merch area, and the bar staff are very warm and accommodating.
Space Academy sits at the heart of what has become a genuine live music precinct on St Asaph Street in central Christchurch. Alongside Darkroom and other creative businesses, the strip drew comparisons in the 2010s to the pre-earthquake network of venues that once defined the city’s inner-city music scene. The venue’s all-ages policy and mid-week programming made it accessible to a wider audience than typical licensed venues, with its 11pm closing time keeping the focus squarely on the music rather than late-night drinking culture.
The space has evolved over the years — what began as Kadett Cafe operating during the day grew to incorporate Doki hair salon (2016), and eventually Pizza Trap, a pizza kitchen open Wednesday through Sunday evenings. This layered, community-minded approach to the building reflects Space Academy’s philosophy: a neighbourhood bar in spirit, even if located in the central city, with an unwavering focus on creativity and local culture.
In 2022, development of 18 townhouses immediately adjacent to Space Academy raised concerns within the Christchurch music community about potential noise conflicts between new residents and the established venue precinct. Richard Barnacle, representing Space Academy, joined the governing board of the newly formed Independent Music Venues Aotearoa (IMVA) in 2025 — a national body advocating for venues facing exactly these kinds of pressures. The IMVA has been in negotiations with Christchurch City Council over district plan modifications to protect the viability of the St Asaph Street music precinct.
History
- 2014/2015: Space Academy / Kadett Cafe opens in a former warehouse at 371 St Asaph Street
- 2016: Doki Hair Saloon is added to the venue
- 2022: 18 townhouses approved immediately adjacent to the venue, raising noise conflict concerns
- 2025: Richard Barnacle joins the governing board of Independent Music Venues Aotearoa (IMVA)