A new venue on the Britomart fringe has been unveiled for the 2012 AdMedia Fairfax Agency of the Year (in association with CAANZ).

The Imperial Lane bar & restaurant (www.everybodys.co.nz) is a lovely eaterie at 7 Fort Lane, part of a three-storey complex built in a disused cinema – the Roxy – so ancient that even Ed can’t recall it.

The ground-level room opens wide onto the low-traffic street, which will allow smokers and overheated guests to escape to the open air – while still being able to keep an eye on proceedings.

The judges yesterday chose a Rookies shortlist – these people will be interviewed by an independent panel (including DDB Group ceo Sandy Moore and Colenso BBDO managing director Nick Garrett) early next week, and all finalists in all categories will be published in Fastline next Thursday.

The winners will be announced in AdMedia March (due out on March 15).

Awards night this year is on the evening of Tuesday 13th March.

Doors open at 6pm sharp, and the awards show will run for 30 minutes, starting at 6.30pm.

Tickets cost $30 each (no door sales) but the price includes complimentary drinks and finger food in the lead-up to the ceremony (afterwards, it’s a cash bar). The venue holds around 250 guests, and there’s plenty of street parking in the surrounding streets and nearby commercial car parks.

This year, for the first time, there’s an after-party, with a DJ in the same venue from 8pm.

Inquiries to taniav@mediaweb.co.nz.