A real Gisborne gem in a sparkling setting

Patrons can dine waterside all year round. Photo / Supplied

The popular Wharf Cafe and Bar in Gisborne is being offered for sale as a business going concern by by Karen Raureti of Bayleys Gisborne with expressions of interest sought by a deadline of August 27.

Raureti says a new owner would be well-poised to benefit from the upcoming busy tourist season which includes the annual Gisborne Wine and Food Festival at Labour Weekend, Rhythm and Vines in January, and the Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival in February.

"The Wharf Cafe and Bar is an institution at Eastland Port and trail-blazed the way for dining and entertainment around the inner harbour," Raureti says.

"This is a real Gisborne gem based in the historic Number 1 shed. When you talk about location being paramount, the Wharf wins hands down. It is highly visible from the busy State Highway which runs past it, and when dining here, patrons feel like they are part of the action of a working port.

"There is currently a lease in place with Eastland Port which has been a supportive landlord and encouraging of new initiatives.

"With Gisborne being a coastal city, it is great to have the port as a focal point for entertainment and dining. As both indoor and outdoor tables are available, patrons are able to sit waterside regardless of the weather or the season. Plus, the cafe has access to some of the best and freshest local produce with fish landed at the wharf that morning on the plates at dinner time."

"With the port a hive of activity year-round, even the sea life favours it as a destination," Raureti says. "Both Homer the sea elephant and Moko the dolphin have made the port their home over the years."

Looking back on 12 years of owning and operating the Wharf Cafe and Bar, maitre d' and co-owner Llewellyn Williams says the word "millennium" brings standout memories for the thriving establishment that has become a favourite for locals and visitors to Gisborne.

"We had not long owned The Wharf Cafe when the new millennium dawned and the world's eyes were on Gisborne as the place to be to witness the first sunrise of the century," says Williams who runs the restaurant with business partner Ian Smail.

"I had 63 staff on deck that season, was interviewed by international journalists on January 1 with the story going all over the world - and finally got to bed at 3am only to be up and on deck at 7am for the breakfast shift. It was crazy, mad - but I'll always remember it."

"And then two years later, the Jody F Millennium was stranded for 18 days off Waikanae Beach and The Wharf Cafe effectively became an office for the salvage crew who worked around the clock to try and fix the problem. It was full-on and it was times like those that you really appreciated the value of true team work."

After 30 years in the hospitality industry, Williams says she's seen it all and despite the economic dips and dives, it's still a great game to be in.

"It's all about tapping into your market, giving people what they want and exceeding their expectations. People socialise differently today even compared to five years ago. Today, you have to really give people a reason to go out and a reason to spend, as they are so much more aware of food trends and they are often cautious with their discretionary dollars," says Williams.

"With the rise in popularity of food magazines and the fascination with celebrity chefs and food programmes on television, people know a lot more about what they are eating and feel more confident about tackling ambitious home menus. When they go out, they want to have an experience that transcends what they could have at their own place."

The Wharf Cafe and Bar has firmly established itself on the Gisborne dining and entertainment scene and has also received accolades nationally. Williams has forged some enduring relationships within the local and national wine industry and is highly thought of in this field.

Excellent chefs have been attracted to the business over the years and the current head chef, Gisborne local Kevin Murphy, has been with the Wharf for four years. Awards for Best Cafe and Business of the Year adorn the walls, but Williams says it is the loyalty and support of the Gisborne locals that have made the Wharf what it is today.

"Whether they visit once a year, once a week or even once a day, our regular local customers really make this business worthwhile. The Wharf has become an integral part of many family milestones with 21sts, engagements, anniversary celebrations and weddings all celebrated here over the years."

The business currently operates with a core staff of 15 which is boosted during busy summer times and for special events with a pool of ring-in staff.

Raureti says it is to Williams' credit that in the 12 years that she has run the Wharf more than 500 staff have been employed, giving young people the opportunity to learn about the hospitality business, with many of them going on start their own businesses.

"Plus there's a steady stream of transient summer workers in Gisborne adding vibrancy to the cafe-bar scene."