Recreating the finery of the Tudor era

Press, 4 December 1985, Page 47

Recreating the finery of the Tudor era

Styled on a traditional sixteenth-century Tudor coaching inn, the Cotswold Inn, on Papanui Road, is the latest addition to accommodation and dining establishments in Christchurch. For Mr Tom Sharpies, the designer and builder of the complex, it has been a dream come true. The attention to detail and authenticity in recreating the Tudor era has given the complex a very special and almost “magical” quality.

As with Tudor coaching inns, entry to the Cotswold is through a covered archway leading into a cobblestoned inner courtyard. The courtyard area is completely surrounded by two-storeyed buildings with high-pitched slate roofs, interesting little dormers with decorative gables, leadlight bay windows, black and white batten architecture and colourful schist stonework. Mature trees and shrubs

complement the buildings. Stage One of the Cotswold Inn comprises 16 luxury suites, two restaurants and a house cocktail bar. The Tudors Restaurant is open for dinner, offering international cuisine in rich surroundings which replicate the finery of the Tudor period. The Crofters Restaurant, which opens at 7 a.m. for breakfast and is open throughout the day for lunch, dinner, morning and afternoon teas, has a more

rustic decor which creates a relaxed and easy atmosphere.

The suites offer guests the comforts of the past, but with the most modern facilities. The lounge of each suite is very spacious — large enough for comfortable business meetings — and quite separate from the bedrooms.

The inn can also cater for cocktail parties and business meetings held in the suites.

Next year, Stage Two of the project will add a further 34 suites, a conference room, a swimming pool and a spa pool area. Two of the suites will be designed for use by those confined to a wheelchair. The Cotswold Inn is managed by two brothers, Mr David French, who is the general manager, and Mr John French, who is the catering manager. They have formed a partnership — Anglo Inns — to which the management contract

for the complex has been let.

The Cotswold Inn Partnership has four directors: Mr Tom Sharpies, who designed and built the complex; Mr Gary White, who planned the interior design and furnishings; Mr lan Rowlands and Mr Tony Lee.

The general manager, Mr David French, has had more than 20 years experience in the. catering industry. He trained as a chef and was the executive chef for the

Chateau Commodore when it opened in 1975. In 1981, he became general manager for the Chateau Regency, which he left in March of this year to take up his present position. Mr French has found his experience in catering an essential key to good management. His brother, Mr John French, who is the catering manager, also trained as a chef in England. He was the executive chef at Lennons Plaza Hotel in Brisbane.

Subsequent to that, he had his own delicatessen and outside catering business. Messrs French have some of the best chefs in New Zealand working for them, assisted by other very experienced staff. Everything possible is done to ensure guests have an enjoyable stay. A courtesy van is at the disposal of guests and varied services — such as babysitting — can be arranged by reception.