Piano finds new home at Blue Baths (+ video)

A piano with a history has found a new home at a Rotorua cafe - now the call has gone out for someone to play it.

The Social Room, which opened yesterday at the Blue Baths, is looking for piano players to play on a semi-regular basis to entertain customers.

The German piano was gifted to St Faith's Church in Ohinemutu by the founder of the Carter Chorale choir, the late Nick Carter, in the 1950s.

Blue Baths managing director Jo Romanes said she was offered the piano by Bill Scott from St Faith's.

"The piano had fallen into disrepair and was blocking a fire exit."

Mr Scott said the St Faith's vestry had made the decision to get rid of the piano.

"It needed tuning and had a broken leg. To repair it would cost beyond what we have. I know Jo so I called her up. There was no other place we could put it."

It was a quick turnaround with Mrs Romanes and helpers able to collect the piano the day Mr Scott called.

This happened in August last year and while Mrs Romanes wanted to have it at Blue Baths there was no space at the time.

However, the Kaikoura earthquake on September 12 changed matters.

"I wasn't planning to reopen but with the Rotorua Museum closing down there needed to be a place for refreshments in the Government Gardens. It was bit of a mission to crane the piano in."

Mrs Romanes said the instrument was there to be enjoyed and be played.

"It would perhaps suit an older person as our hours are during the day from 10am to 4pm, someone that could play semi-regularly. We're pretty open as long as they can play to a certain standard."

Mrs Romanes said the name The Social Room was chosen for the cafe as people in Rotorua had always gathered and socialised at the tearooms.

"We want people to come together to interact and enjoy the ambiance, and the age-old tradition of a tearoom with a modern twist."

The former Blue Baths tearooms did already have a piano, said Mrs Romanes, but it had deteriorated beyond repair.

Local craftsman Shane McFarlane carried out the minor repairs to the piano from St Faith's.

Mrs Romanes said he would repurpose the walnut timber from the old Blue Baths piano which would be turned in to musical instruments.