Local agency or remote studio for a fine dining restaurant website in Wellington: how to choose (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

When one chef runs two fine dining restaurants in Wellington, the first decision is not who builds the website but how many websites you need: one group site with two venues usually costs less, shares one booking logic and sends a full room's overflow to its sister. A Wellington agency is the right partner if the group is also reworking its brand architecture, wants in-person workshops with both front-of-house teams and expects regular shoots in two rooms. A remote studio on a fixed grid (Kolonell Growth USD 4,900, Premium USD 8,900) is enough when both brands exist and the brief is a clear, fast group site that each manager can update.

One site, two sites or a hub: which structure fits a two-restaurant group?

Wellington guests rarely confuse your two rooms, but Google and booking platforms easily do if names, hours and menus are spread across mismatched sites. Pick the structure first, then the provider.

For most two-room groups run by one chef, the second option wins: shared gift vouchers, one private dining enquiry form that offers both rooms, and a single place to tell the chef's story.

Which risks does each type of provider handle better?

With two venues, the risks multiply: two sets of opening hours to keep right, two menus, two Google Business Profiles, and two managers who must both approve copy. Here is how each type of provider usually handles them.

Kolonell's fixed prices include native English copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks and 3 months of support; booking integration and search work are on quote. Read the international offer for the full scope.

What does each structure cost over three years?

As a 2026 ballpark from typical Wellington agency quotes and public rate pages, converted at about USD 0.59 per NZD: a single restaurant site from a small agency runs NZD 12,000 to 28,000 (about USD 7,100 to 16,500), a group site with two venues NZD 20,000 to 40,000 (about USD 11,800 to 23,600). Freelancers start around NZD 3,000.

The maintenance line is a market assumption for comparison, not a Kolonell price: after the 3 included months, Kolonell maintenance is on quote. Booking integration is excluded throughout.

When should a Wellington group choose the local agency?

Go local if you are also redesigning both brands or adding a group identity, if the chef wants to work in person with the designer in each room, if you need monthly content shoots across two venues, or if the agency already handles your social channels and events such as Wellington On a Plate in August. A local partner is also easier when two managers with different schedules must be brought into the same room to agree.

Go remote if both brands are settled, one person can approve for the group, and you are happy to book a Wellington photographer yourself.

Questions for both: Can each venue manager edit only their own menu? Are both domains registered to the group? Can gift vouchers be redeemed at either restaurant? What does adding a third venue cost later?

Local rules to brief your provider on. The Privacy Act 2020 applies to every business regardless of size; booking and dietary data across two venues need one clear privacy statement, and serious breaches must be notified to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner. The Fair Trading Act 1986 prohibits misleading claims: show surcharges and deposit rules plainly and never claim awards or guide listings you do not hold. For allergens, describe what each kitchen can adapt and check New Zealand Food Safety guidance. Aim for WCAG 2.2 AA, the usual accessibility benchmark. This is not legal advice.

Mini case study

Illustrative example. Kate is operations director for a chef who runs two dining rooms: 40 covers on Cuba Street, 55 at Oriental Bay. On Friday and Saturday nights, the Cuba Street room turns away about 12 booking requests a week, and today those guests simply go elsewhere.

On a group site, a full slot at one venue can offer the sister restaurant. If 25% of turned-away requests accept, that is 3 covers a week at an average spend of NZD 150, so NZD 450 a week, or NZD 21,600 of revenue over 48 trading weeks (about USD 12,700). That is revenue, not profit, but it dwarfs the build cost difference.

Kate's choice: the local agency quoted NZD 24,000 (about USD 14,200) for a group site. Kolonell Growth is USD 4,900 with booking integration on quote, plus two Wellington photo sessions at about USD 2,360 (third-party cost). The chef's brand is settled, Kate signs off alone, so she goes remote and uses the saving for the photo shoots.

FAQ

Should two restaurants under one chef share one website?

Usually yes: one group site with two venue sections means one CMS, shared vouchers and overflow between rooms. In our comparison it costs about USD 10,230 over three years against USD 27,200 for two separate agency sites.

How much does a Wellington agency charge for a two-venue group site?

As a 2026 ballpark, NZD 20,000 to 40,000 (about USD 11,800 to 23,600). Photography and booking integration are usually extra.

Can each venue manager update their own menu?

Yes, if roles are set up in the CMS at launch. Ask for it in writing; Kolonell includes 3 months of support to fix any rights issue after go-live.

Is the Kolonell Growth tier enough for two venues?

For two venue sections in English, Growth at USD 4,900 often fits, with the exact scope confirmed in the quote. If you need more languages, Premium at USD 8,900 is the multilingual tier.

How long does a group site take?

Kolonell delivers in 3 to 4 weeks once content for both venues is ready. Local agencies typically need 8 to 12 weeks for a two-venue project.

Let's scope your project. Tell us about both venues, your booking platform and who signs off, and we will send a fixed scope, budget and launch date for one group site. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.