New life for historic hotel

Press, 24 September 1987, Page 33

New life for historic hotel

One of Christchurch’s oldest hotels, Warners, has been refurbished from top to bottom. Warner’s has a history dating back to the 1860 s when it was one of the first and grandest hotels in the city. Situated in the Square, it was in a very convenient location for colonials as it is now for today’s jet age travellers. Along with its complete refurbishment, it has also had an old name revived. It is now known as Warner’s New Hotel. This name dates back to 1901 when the frontage was destroyed by fire. When it was reopened it was then called Warner’s New Hotel. Last year the hotel’s new owners, Mr Stan O’Keefe and his partner Mr John McArthy, were faced with the decision whether to give the his-

torlc hotel a new lease of life and what market to aim at if they did. “Most of the hotel building in Christchurch is being aimed at the top end of the market, leaving a gap in medium and more budget-priced accommodation. “This was the obvious market to aim at,” says the hotel’s general manager, Mr Barry Noakes. The central location and price structure will mean that Warner’s New Hotel will appeal to New Zealanders, business companies as well as tourists, he says. The renovations, costing $750,000, have been carried out over the last 18 months so that disruption has been minimal. Some rooms have been made larger. There are now 48 rooms, some single and some twin. “The number of rooms affords the opportunity

to give personal service and contact between management and client,” Mr Noakes says.

The rooms have been decorated In pastels, the total decor carefully chosen by Prudence Rothenberg in keeping with the age of the gracious old building. Walls have been stripped and repapered, carpets replaced and new bedding installed. Many of the attractive features remain — the high ceilings, the skirtings, the architraves, sash windows and original doors. “It is like stepping back into an older world, but still with all the modern conveniences required by the guests,” Mr

Noakes says. All rooms are self-con-tained with tea and coffee making facilities and television, a far cry from 1863, when hot and cold running water and electric lights, were among the amenities the hotel boasted. Work on a restaurant is under way now. To be called “Strikes of London,” it will provide meals in an area as an extension to Bailie’s Bar. Barry Noakes took up his position as general manager in Easter last year, and is looking forward to managing a new, improved hotel. He comes from Central Otago where he had spent 15 years in the hotel industry.