Canterbury Inn

Press, 2 September 1980, Page 28

Canterbury Inn

Hostess: Beverley Douglas.’, ; Hours: Dinner 6.p.ni.; onwards, ; -sevennights a week. " » . : ' Bookings: Advisable. . t,.? ‘.Ji / Fully licenced: Yes, with cocktail bar. Cards: All Seats: 110. ... Average price for .two: $3O including wine. Specialties: Chefs special of the day. Style of dress: Informal. Barking: Off-street. - . , -, ■ ■ ,L -- ■

The Canterbury Inn, on the comer of Riccarton Road and Mandeville Street, — the site of the old Rhodes property — is making a determined bid under the new management of Chris Mitchell to get a larger share of the entertainment market-. The restaurant has been completely redecorated in a most attractive manner. John Foley, a free-lance creative artist. who used to work for Trans Tours — . the Trans Hotel chain owns the - Canterbury • Inn — has been retained to “theme” the alterations. Foley began his assignment by reading 21 books on early Canterbury.’ history, arid" doing intensive

research at the Canterbury Museum. Eventually he decided that J. E. FitzGerald was his man. Fitz Gerald, whom he describes as a Damon Runyon character;- is one of the “unsung heroes” of. early colonial days, Foley thinks, and deserves'more than a statue and an avenue called after him. The result of Foley’s efforts is a delightful , collection of early Canterbury memorabilia, virtually a museum dedicated to J. E. Fitz Gerald and his times —' with some 4Q old photographs and watercolours, and a number of old artifacts. The Canterbury Inn has three different menus -operating during the week — a blackboard menu for lunch Monday to Friday. (12 - 2.30 p.m.) and for dinner from Monday to Friday; a regular a la carte menu for Friday and .Saturday, and a table d’hote menu for - “family day” on Sunday. A novel feature will be

a telephone at every table on request — useful for those businessmen’s lunches that might drag on a bit, and there will be a “happy hour” from 5 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. on Wednesdays, and 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays and Sundays. Live country music is provided on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The resident artists are Kevin Boyes and Tony Courtis, who have proved very popular since they started there about three months ago. Prices are competitive for nice food; the stuffed flounder, part of the luncheon menu, can be wholeheartedly recommended. The Sunday table d’hote menu is priced at $7.95 a head, and $3,95 for children under .12 years of age. The restaurant is, of course, fully-licenced, and has a pleasant cocktail bar. . Parking is no problem at all, being off-street in a number of spacious areas.