Store owners on Christchurch's New Regent Street have had to evacuate their shops, because of a burst water main outside the Isaac Theatre Royal.

The theatre was testing its sprinkler system for its reopening day in just over a weeks time, when the accident happened.

Theatre chief executive Neil Cox says it's more of an annoyance than anything.

"A lot of our crews are now dedicating time to the shops in the New Regent Street to be able to help them to clean up and sweep out.

"And we're providing them with bits of carpet offcuts etcetera to put outside their shops."