Marked Improvement In Hotels Of Christchurch

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27490, 26 October 1954, Page 8

Marked Improvement In Hotels Of Christchurch

An estimate is that £500,000 has been spent in the last three years or is proposed to be spent soon on the improvement of hotels in Christchurch. A marked improvement has, over all, been made in the hotels. Much of the improvement has followed the work of the Licensing Control Commission, yet the licensees themselves may claim some credit for their own progressiveness in improving the amenities and facilities of their hotels. Of the 59 hotels in Christchurch—from Sumner and New Brighton to Upper Riccarton in the west and from Sydenham to Papanui in the north —requisitions to carry out improvements were served on only 30. Some of the required improvements were small, but in many cases big expenditure was faced by the licensees or the owners.

The work done in the 59 hotels visited recently by a reporter'of “The Press’’ has been impressive. Although many licensees had plans for modernisation of their premises before the Licensing Control Commission investigated the hotel situation in Christchurch, building permits could not be obtained until about two years ago. In some hotels, many thousands of pounds have been spent. When all the work projected is completed, Christchurch, in the inner area and the suburbs, will have hotels modern in interior styling with spacious bars for customers, and accommodation to suit all types of guests. Only one hotel will remain to be described as drab inside, unless work is done none is proposed. The bars are brighter and bigger and there are more of them. Major Works Among the major works remaining on the list of hotel improvements is the rebuilding of an old suburban hotel, the complete remodelling of a city hotel at a cost estimated at £70,000, and extensive modernisation of another city hotel and a seaside hotel. The whole of the interior of a hotel nearly 100 years old in the busiest commercial area is being ripped out in stages and laid out in modern style. One of the biggest hotels is about to remodel its ground floor to give more bar and party accommodation, and to build a new diningroom and kitchen and another floor of guest rooms.

The building work on bars, lounges, bedrooms, bathrooms, and showers and conveniences does not represent the sum total of the big expenditure on hotels. Chattels are an expensive addition. In one hotel, carpeting of a dining-room has cost £l2OO. New cash registers cost several hundreds of pounds. As many of the hotels are more than 50 years old, costs are dear for plumbing for wash basins in bedrooms. Many of the licensees could have saved money by carrying out

the bare requirements of the Licensing Control Commission; instead, they have spent money to raise the standard or their hotels, both for bar patrons and guests. Commission’s Views Improvements required by the commission in its report of November, 1951, were mostly in the direction of guest accommodation or bar facilities. ‘ ‘However, rpany of the hotel plans for alterations had been drawn up before the commission’s sitting,” said the report. “While several licensed premises have recently modernised their bars and bar lounges, there is still room for considerable improvement in many other hotels. The standard of toilet conveniences was in many cases poor and inadequate. In a number of hotels, insufficient space is provided for patrons in private and public bars. In most cases there is ample room for extension and several owners produced plans which will bring about considerable improvement.” When works projected is completed, suburban hotels of Christchurch will generally be classified as excellent in quality. The number outside the four belts is 22, against 37 in the inner area. Service in Suburbs In spite of the great growth of suburban Christchurch, only one new hotel licence has been authorised, and the hotel is almost ready to open. The populous suburbs of half a century ago are well served with hotels; but residents of other parts of the city have to travel long distances to reach the “local.” For many years, the owners or licensees of hotels, with a few exceptions, were content to handle the expanding business, resultant of a rapidly increasing population and changing habits, with premises built for the earlier days. Conditions in the bars were cramped and the amenities fairly primitive and inadequate. A change has come over the hotel scene, in the suburbs as well as in the central city area, atad it is appreciated by the customers and must be a matter of pride to the licensees.

The general improvement was long overdue and the requisitions served on the premises by the Licensing Control Commission are mainly responsible. Few of the suburban hotels catered for guests until their obligation to provide accommodation was emphasised by the commission. Many now have excellent accommodation for guests. They have difficulties. One of the complaints of suburban licensees, as well as those in the inner area, is that the gradings of the Price Tribunal are against them; for instance, one hotel cannot get a higher grading because it has no office. Also, no strong demand for accommodation outside the inner area is reported.