McCutcheon's widow wins hospitality award

Just over a year and a half after her husband was murdered, Sawyers Arms Tavern owner Paula McCutcheon has triumphed as Hospitality Personality of the Year.
The rookie restaurateur picked up the award at the HANZ Awards for Excellence - despite initially declining an invitation to attend the awards ceremony in Auckland last month.
"I told organisers awards ceremonies weren't really my thing, and didn't think I'd won anything anyway," Mrs McCutcheon said. "But then they insisted and paid for my travel so I couldn't say no."
"The HANZ chief executive began to speak, saying there was no better way to describe the next winner than in her own words. And he began to read my [earlier submitted] story."
She received a standing ovation.
The realisation of her win is as surprising now as it was then, she said. "It really hasn't sunk in yet. I think in a few years time I'll look back and say hey, that was quite an achievement. But right now I'm still living and breathing the business every day so it's difficult to fathom what's happened."
The award comes just under a year after she pioneered a new era at the historic 1864-built pub in Tikokino.
Yet what started as a pipe-dream purchase for the former nurse, her agricultural contractor husband Mark, and their three children, turned to tragedy when Mr McCutcheon was fatally stabbed outside the Ongaonga Pub on January 23 last year.
Despite the tragedy, the widow and a group of friends and tradesmen continued with the massive refurbishment of the then run-down pub. And business is now booming.
"I didn't expect we would create a monster. We're just amazingly busy. It's where I wish I still had Mark to look after the business side of the pub, that was always his sort of thing.
"Having a partner would have made a big difference on a project like this."
A total of seven staff now run the successful tavern, frequented by locals and an increasing number of travellers keen to sample some hearty country fare in State Highway 50's landmark tavern.
The restaurant side of the business had been the bolter, Mrs McCutcheon said. "I've got a great chef and we've created a very relaxed atmosphere - which was always what Mark and I were aiming for."
HANZ chief executive Bruce Robertson told Hawke's Bay Today the gritty mother was recognised for her "courage" in recreating a wonderful hospitality venue in the face of such tragic circumstances.
"It takes strength, personality and perseverance to achieve what she has over the past 12 months," he said.
While the trophy will grace the pub for a few weeks, the proud recipient said the prize will take pride of place at home. "This is a prize I earned through determination. I see it as a more personal award so it'll be coming home with me."