Meet Sarah Hilyard from Whisky & Wood

People Behind the Space: Whisky & Wood

Sarah Hilyard, Founder of Whisky & Wood

In this edition of People Behind the Space, we sit down with Sarah Hilyard, the creative force behind Whisky & Wood and Sweet Axe Throwing Co. in Wellington. With a background in the arts, events, and project management, Sarah transformed a 100-year-old warehouse into one of the city's most unique event venues.

From late-night DIY renovations to hosting jazz, weddings, and whisky tastings, Sarah shares the heart and hustle that built a space infused with soul, creativity, and community.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what inspired you to open Whisky & Wood.

I’m a creative person with a background in the arts, events & project management- I was using all three skills managing events & day-to-day operations at the Australian Copyright Council. In 2017, my partner and I were after a sea change and decided to move to Aotearoa to start an axe-throwing business! We started Sweet Axe Throwing Co. in Wellington (drawn to this city because of its gorgeous wildlife, craft beer, and vibrant culture), and from there it just grew- we became one of the top choices for team building in Wellington & Auckland! By 2020, we had three sites and were looking to expand into a hospitality venture, but we needed a more suitable and permanent site.

We found 60 Cambridge, a charming warehouse in Te Aro, that suited perfectly - the bonus being that it had enough space for both Sweet Axe and another business. I set to work with the consent process to convert a 100-year-old warehouse into an event space!

For ~2 years I was here, from sun up til sun down, grinding floors, painting every centimeter of our 12ft tall ceilings and trusses. I spent about 8 months of that time up on a scaffold, sanding, painting, planning, and dreaming. People would drop in and I'd talk about my vision for this space, with weddings and conferences, theatre and life drawing. They looked at me as if I were crazy. At the time, they were looking at a leaking, rusty, grimy, weird, dark attic. What it is now is all I ever saw.

As the months went on, the reactions started changing, and it's wild to now see my dreams coming to life and to see how many people appreciate the space we've built. What a trip!

We always had the name, a combination of my beautiful dog Whiskey and my other business (Sweet Axe Throwing Co.), which smells like fresh pine and would be nothing without wood.

Having Tom from Tomahawk build our bar breathed life into the space and pulled my whole vision. When you work with a true craft person, it's pure joy. I wanted a bar with soul, that looked like it had been there for 100 years, and Tom delivered!

Whisky and Wood was built with love, it has my heart. There are so many quiet moments when the light hits just right that make me so happy I could burst. I just love it.

It’s been fulfilling to see our guests embrace the space with the same excitement I have for it!

What do you enjoy most about running Whisky & Wood, and how does it differ from other event spaces in the city?

There’s such a shortage of venues that can host groups of 80-120 in Wellington Central, so Whisky & Wood has been a much-needed addition to the events scene here.

With Sweet Axe downstairs, we are such a fabulous option for large corporate functions, strategy days, or team-building events. Start off at Whisky & Wood for a strategy or sales meeting before heading downstairs to enjoy our bar, Smash Room, Axe Throwing, free pool, table tennis, darts, board games, lawn games, retro video games & more! From there, guests can move back upstairs for dinner, drinks & dancing.

We take care of everything for you, removing all the stress and expense of travelling from one place to the next and ultimately losing people along the way! It’s the ultimate staff away day!

Whisky & Wood lends itself to a variety of event types, from product launches & tech conferences to beer festivals & birthday parties. It’s a versatile space that can be laid out to feel intimate with as few as 20 guests and is truly spacious with 120 guests!

Offering affordable packages for wedding ceremonies & receptions, and the flexibility & choice to select their own caterers, or leave catering selection up to us!

What was the inspiration behind the design of Whisky & Wood, and how does it enhance the guest experience?

Versatility & warmth inspired the design- keeping the space open but using furniture to zone the space- adding practicality and ensuring the large open space could feel intimate was key!

Whisky & Wood is one large room; the entrance opens to a rich oak bar, and two antique French chandeliers hang above. Opposite the bar, guests enjoy lush banquette seating and a range of bar leaners, stools & lounge furniture. These are all included in the venue hire. A translucent curtain separates the bar area from the rear of the venue, making the space perfect for cocktails & canapes before we pull back the curtains and invite guests to take a seat for the main event, be it a wedding ceremony, a formal dinner, or a dance party!

Our decor & styling offers versatility, the walls are whitewashed exposed brick, adding warmth & character. The furniture choices are classic, neutral, and beautiful. Wood & iron, velvet & linen, concrete & brick. There’s a play between old-world charm and modern simplicity.
I’ve consciously selected event furniture that is beautiful, modular & movable.

The neutral colour palette allows clients to put their stamp on the space, appealing to minimalists and our aesthetic girlies as much as it does to maximalists. Lighting, layout, styling, and florals transform the space to suit so many styles & tastes.

Our hire packages are designed to include everything you need for a good celebration, so our venue hire is inclusive of our gorgeous furniture as well!

Accessibility is one of our values, so our space has a lift, accessible staircase & ambulant bathroom.

As the owner of both Whisky & Wood and Sweet Axe Throwing, what do you love about offering such unique and adventurous experiences?

Getting people to tap into childlike delight is so rewarding! I feel like that’s something we create in both Sweet Axe & Whisky & Wood!

Sweet Axe is a space where people enter with a perception of themselves (be it “I’m not strong”, “I don’t want to embarrass myself”, or “I can only have fun if I’m winning”) and they walk out having shattered that pre-conception! We’ve taught people in walkers, in their 90s, and even a few blind folks - the feeling you get when you break a stereotype or someone's self-view is phenomenal! There’s also just the feeling of delight & empowerment for doing something like axe throwing!

Focusing on guest experience has resulted in over 2700+ five-star Google reviews, which is such a proud achievement for us!

At Whisky & Wood, it’s that sense of possibility- the ability to explore creative ideas and have people engage with them! We’ve just hosted two weeks of shows for the NZ Fringe Festival. It’s very cool to see the different crowds each show draws!

If you could invite any three people to host an event at Whisky & Wood, who would they be and why?

I’m lucky in that I’ve had the opportunity to host/collaborate with so many people I admire; Laura Greenfield from Field & Green, chefs Kasey & Karena Bird, Jess Easton from Kitchen Takeover, Maxine Scheckter from Sugar Flour Welly, most of these women have been awarded the top 50 most influential women in food!

I love this question so much because it’s at the heart of what we love to do! I love collaborating with creatives who inspire, so this list was tricky to whittle down to just three, and it’ll be forever evolving and growing! 

Devah Mahal - she’s an American/New Zealand singer/songwriter/activist with the most powerful & emotive voice. She’s phenomenally talented, and I’ll love to see her do her thing in our space. Her voice with these acoustics would be a dream!

Claire Donaldson Styling- she has such an incredible eye, I’m forever inspired by the work she creates. Her event design is immersive and really leads guests to a feeling. I’d just love to see what she would do if she were given full rein over our space!

Graze’s Max Gordy & Stina Persen- Owners of Graze Wine Bar. These two share values with Whisky & Wood and are leaders in sustainable food in Aotearoa. They are also championing community building in hospitality- something that took a real hit over the past 5 years. I’d love to collaborate on an event with them, their food and creativity always inspire me!

Are there any exciting events or collaborations coming up at Whisky & Wood that you're looking forward to?

We’ve got so many fantastic events happening in the next couple of months- I always create space for creative ventures in our space!

• - 27-28th June: Dark Beer Festival
• - 22nd August- Wedding Vendor Party!

There’s always new events being added to the list - we’ll have another jazz & life drawing event, another cabaret or burlesque event, more music & theatre, something for Wellington on a Plate & Loemis Festival again this year.

If you’d like to stay tuned to our awesome public events, or if you’re a creative or event producer who wants to work with us, reach out to us at hello@whiskyandwood.co.nz, and we’ll subscribe you to our events mailing list! 

We also keep a list of upcoming events on our site here: https://www.whiskyandwood.co.nz/event-details

How do you see the future of event spaces evolving, and what plans do you have for Whisky & Wood?

We’re still such a new venue, but I can see Whisky & Wood becoming the most in-demand venue for corporate functions in Wellington & to become a one-stop solution for event organisers. We already do this so well! Offering a refined, stunning venue with impeccable customer experience & a place where event organisers can rest easy knowing we’ll take care of all their needs. My goal is always for the event organiser to be able to relax and enjoy a glass of wine on the night! 

One of my goals for Whisky & Wood is that we can offer an alternative model for chefs- that the progression for a talented chef is not necessarily to open their own brick & mortar restaurant (an endeavor that’s becoming increasingly challenging!) and that we help facilitate pop-up events & have a “seasonal restaurant” in our space.

What has been the most rewarding part of managing Whisky & Wood, and how has it shaped your journey as an entrepreneur?

There’s nothing like having a vision transform into reality, which people love and are invested in as well! 

After creating Whisky & Wood from just a thought to what it is today, I now get to do that for my clients! It’s incredibly rewarding to support a couple through the process of putting together their special day, give them reassurance and guidance, and to know they’ll never forget their time in our space is an absolute privilege. 

I think this journey has only reinforced my determination to continue to prioritise guest experience and chase creativity! 

DISCOVER WHISKY & WOOD