Opening time at the Club Hotel in Carterton last Friday was like no other. The announcement that it was the last session the hotel would see as a pub was met with stunned silence by the regulars, and then a mixed reaction.
Almost 125 years of history came to an end,
when the doors were closed for the last time.
It was a decision made with great difficulty, according to the owners ,Tony and Kathryn O'Regan, who bought the historic two-storey building just under four years ago.
"We made the announcement at opening time because we wanted our regular patrons to get the news personally. Some were really upset but many others understood the pressures of running a business and why we were closing", Mr O'Regan said.
The couple had had the hotel up for sale for about six months with a "few nibbles". But there was only lukewarm interest.
"Twenty to 30 years ago, this would have been a highly sought after business but there is so much competition today, it is not so attractive anymore," Mr O'Regan said.
"Other competition, drink-driving laws and now the smoking ban are having an impact in discouraging people from coming to the pub".
The O'Regans are not leaving the building and instead will turn it into their home. "It's a warm, comfortable building and we like living here", he said. With owner's accommodation plus five double bedrooms and seven singles, there will be plenty of room to rattle around.
"I have been sick for some time, and the stress of working 60-80 hour weeks and trying to find reliable staff has all taken its toll" Mr O'Regan said.
Once they have gathered their breath, they may look at suggestions already put their way to provide the premises for functions, but at the moment they just want to take stock.
Bob Elliotte, who had previously been host to the Rising Sun Hotel in Greytown, built the hotel in 1880 as the White Hart Hotel. It was close to the bustling Carterton railway station (also opened in 1880), and a coach service was offered between the two. It backed on to a huge block of land owned and milled by W. Booth and Co. known as the Taratahi Plain block.
In June 1898, the hotel was razed to the ground by fire along with several other buildings on Belvedere Road. Mr M. Ryan was the licensee and he only just escaped with his life, suffering severe burns, after the fire is thought to have started in the room in which he slept. News reports of the time state that the inflammable nature of the buildings and their contents meant that the neighbourhood was destroyed within an hour.
The hotel was rebuilt and re-named the Club Hotel in January 1899 and M. Ryan continued in charge. Robert Buckeridge, whose family was synonymous with other hotel ownership in the area, bought the Club Hotel in April 1899. In 1900 R. Seymour became the licensee until 1923, when R.J.Paul took over.
There have been scores of licensees since then and the hotel has become the popular watering hole for many. It proximity to the A and P grounds (now the rugby club grounds) made it one of the most popular drinking spots in town.
Mr O'Regan said it was an agonising decision to make "but you only live once and it was a lifestyle choice we had to make".
Opening time at the Club Hotel in Carterton last Friday was like no other. The announcement that it was the last session the hotel would see as a pub was met with stunned silence by the regulars, and then a mixed reaction.
Almost 125 years of history came to an end,
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