- Jane Cunliffe and John Slotemaker bought The Moutere Inn, New Zealand’s oldest pub, near Nelson.
- The couple plans to renovate the 176-year-old pub and reopen its accommodation, maintaining its historic charm.
- Former owners Andrew Cole and Dave Watson ran the pub for 17 years, revitalising its craft beer offerings.
Jane Cunliffe and ex-professional footballer John Slotemaker decided that if nobody else saved New Zealand’s oldest pub, then they would.
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The couple started off as regulars at The Moutere Inn near Nelson, but from this week, they are the new owners.
Cunliffe told OneRoof that they made an offer on the 176-year-old historic pub at the end of last year after it appeared no one else was going to buy it.
Cunliffe and her husband were living on a 10-acre property a six-minute drive away from the pub after setting up and later selling their accommodation, wedding business and retreat venue Appleby House and the Rabbit Island Huts in the Tasman District two-and-a-half years ago.
Cunliffe said they had spent the last few years building a house and developing the land and had found themselves at a loose end. “We have been regular visitors to The Moutere for many years, being big craft beer fans, and we have discussed for many years what we could do if we owned The Moutere. At some point, we said, ‘We cannot talk about it anymore, better do something about it’.”
The pub had been on the market for several years, and the couple didn’t want to see it end up on the scrapheap.
The Moutere Inn is still in the original building, which dates back to the early 1850s. Photo / Supplied
So, they shelved their retirement plans and, with their three children Alberta, Jimi-Zara and Fox, who are also experienced at opening and managing hospitality businesses, they bought the property.
The family plan to carry out a full renovation, which includes bringing the historic building up to current standards, renovating the dining room, guest lounge and bathroom and installing a new car park.
They also plan to reopen the accommodation side of the business, which closed eight years ago.
Cunliffe said they knew how much locals loved the current public bar and planned to keep that area the same. They would continue to serve rotating craft beers plus a wider variety of beverages, including more non-alcoholic choices and great pub food.
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The couple said they were confident they could make the pub a success. “I do believe if you do it right and you create a space for the community and general public to come and feel comfortable, they will come,” Cunliffe said.
“We are going to work very hard to do it right.”
The Moutere Inn was built in 1850 by German soldier Cordt Bensemann, who was one of the earliest settlers in the region. It originally served workers in the horticultural industry, but now has a steady stream of loyal locals and tourists wanting to soak in the atmosphere and have a drink in the country’s oldest original pub.
Vendor Andrew Cole told OneRoof it was time for him and business partner Dave Watson to “reluctantly” move on after running the pub together for 17 years.
The pair were part of a group of four mates who chipped in to buy the pub, which Cole had previously told OneRoof was on its last legs when they purchased it in 2008.
The public bar that locals have grown to love will not change under the new ownership. Photo / Supplied
The pals couldn’t find decent craft beer in New Zealand after returning from their OE, so they bought The Moutere Inn to solve that problem.
Cole and Watson eventually bought the other owners out and have spent time bringing the old icon back to life.
“It’s a different pub from the one we bought in 2008 – and it had to be. People now come here for the food and atmosphere as much as the craft beer and wine.”
Cole said he looked forward to seeing what the new owners would achieve, adding they had plans to renovate the building more than they had been able to.
“We have no doubt it will have offerings to compete with other historic pubs like the Cardrona and Duke of Marlborough in a year or two.”
Both he and Watson intend to take some time off in the short term before deciding what to do next. “Nothing is planned, apart from checking out the other side of the bar. A new opportunity is bound to pop up shortly.”
Bayleys agent Matt Galvin said Moutere locals, including himself, were thrilled it would remain a pub. “It has a bright future, which is wonderful.”
Galvin said while there had been a huge amount of interest from people, including Australians and friends daydreaming of owning a pub, many walked away after the gravity of what was involved set in.
He was pleased they had found the right owners after a lengthy search. “They’ve got the experience and know how to tackle such a project, which I’m personally and professionally chuffed.
“I didn’t want to get chased out of the village because someone had bought it and closed it.”
While the exact sale price could not be disclosed until after settlement, the pub did have an asking price of $1.2m.
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