Dance floor at Copper Cat coffee house

Possibly about 1959 to possibly about 1962

Couples dancing on an outdoor dance floor at the coffee house, Copper Cat. Groups of well-dressed people are sitting around the edge of the dance floor at small, round tables, taking and drinking coffee.

Contributors note: "Dion Murphy played in a variety of bands, which in 1958 obtained a residency in a local coffee lounge called The Copper Cat at 137 Lower High Street, Christchurch. The band at the Copper Cat reformed to become Dion Shannon and the Shamrocks in 1959. The Copper Cat was one of the original night spots in Christchurch and attracted a large regular following - it became a favourite spot for musicians such as Howard Morrison and the Howard Morrison Quartet, to drop in for "coffee" after their local gigs, as the hotels closed at 6pm, and the Copper Cat stayed open till 2:00am in the morning, something rare in 1959."

Creator: Peter Basire

Area: Central City / Central Christchurch - Southeast

Contributor: Barbara Newcombe

Source: Entry in the 2025 Christchurch City Libraries Photo Hunt.

Reference ID: CCL-PH25-BaNe-0018

Uploaded by: CCL Photo Hunt

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

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