Wakelin House on TV show

Greytown restaurant Wakelin House is to feature on an upcoming episode of The Kitchen Job.
The filming for the show, which airs at 7.30pm on TV3 tomorrow, was supported by Destination Wairarapa who helped source a chef, a wine expert and set up the shoot with local growers and at the Wairarapa Farmers' Market in August.
The restaurant was renovated at no cost to its owners Dave and Helen Smith and has had its name changed to Market Restaurant at Wakelin House, its dining area repainted from a dark green to white, a new reception area put in and carpet laid and curtains hung to deaden the noise from the wooden floors.
It's also had a menu change from an Italian focus to one which uses local produce and wines, especially that purchased from the Wairarapa Farmer's Markets held each weekend, and a picket fence erected outside.
"It's cost us nothing (but) long hours, a lot of work. We fed the helpers out of our pocket. Apart from a bit of cooking for people it was all done for us," Mr Smith said.
The result has pleased the owners "it's gorgeous", Mrs Smith said and her husband said it has made a huge difference to the atmosphere of the room. It's warmer in there, it's quieter in there, it's more comfortable in there. This room, without the carpets in and without the curtains up, it's real noisy."