Hard work restoring country pub pays off

By ROSALEEN MacBRAYNE

The small Coromandel Hotel has won an overseas award, but the proprietor and his staff cannot afford to go to Madrid for the presentation.

Coinciding with an international tourism fair, Fitur 2003, the Trade Leaders' Club will hold a special dinner today to honour the "most outstanding establishments" in the tourist, hotel, restaurant and catering fields from 25 countries.

When Coromandel Hotel owner Simon Meadows got a letter late last year saying his business had been selected for one of this year's awards, he thought it was a hoax.

But it turned out to be genuine. Previous awards had gone to New Zealand establishments, including one last year to the Seamart Restaurant in Auckland, he said.

"I'm over the moon," said Mr Meadows, who bought Coromandel's "top pub" (the other hotel, the Admiral's Arms, is at the bottom end of town) three years ago.

"The whole place was falling to bits. I spent a fortune trying to make it look 'olde worlde' and a bit of this and that."

Restoration included using native timber and local labour to replace aluminium window frames and plastic tables and stools.

Ill-health forced Mr Meadows to retreat to Mt Maunganui and appoint Dave and Machelle Pakau to manage the hotel.

They have overseen several improvements, including a new gaming room and a garden bar.

Top Pub fishing trip special deals have become popular in winter, when the tourist numbers fall.

Coromandel township, once a booming goldmining centre with more than 20 pubs, now has a population of about 1400, many of them artists and craftspeople.

The Pakaus, formerly publicans in Wellington, and their two boys love it.

"We got sick of being city slickers and wanted to go bush," Mr Pakau said.

They like the laid-back atmosphere and the children enjoy swimming in the creek out the back of the hotel and keeping a variety of pets.

"You have Coromandel and you have the rest of the world," said Mr Pakau.

Mrs Pakau was keen to go to Madrid for the award ceremony.

But despite lobbying suppliers for sponsorship, Mr Meadows had to send a letter of apology because the trip is too expensive.

"Hopefully we will still get our bronze statue."