Few heritage buildings are both beautiful and practical enough to meet the demands of a contemporary hospitality business.,
The Ivory Bar in Rangiora is one of the few that can boast both of those.
The Ivory Street building was built to what was considered neo-classical design in 1925, opened in 1926 by then Minister of Agriculture O J Hawken.
It still stands proud in the centre square of Rangiora due to the vision and hard work of the local Beulink family.
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“It was a three-year rebuild and restoration to bring it back from the Canterbury earthquakes before we opened the doors and it was truly a journey for the entire family,” said Rob Beulink, one of the owners.
His is a local family with a passion for renovating and restoring residential and commercial heritage buildings and they could not resist saving this iconic building.
They have achieved their goal of not just saving the building but turning it into something spectacular.
The inspiration for the interior stems from the Great Gatsby 1920s era, reflected perfectly in the bespoke fittings and fixtures.
The nod to its art deco/art nouveau history is evident throughout and they have cleverly woven in all the modern amenities and high tech lighting and entertainment systems.
There is even the option to change up the exterior LED lighting adding drama to the impressive column facade at night.
The building has housed a number of businesses over the years, serving as an agricultural HQ, a bank, beauty clinic, several bars and an Indian restaurant.
Its most recent transformation is arguably the most beautiful.
Highlights inside include the private mezzanine seating area, bespoke copper pressed tin ceilings, beautiful art deco style staircase and banister, chandeliers, and hand-crafted mahogany bar.
The entrance has floor to ceiling security glass to not interrupt the striking façade and creates a perfect outside/inside entrance and seating area.
The project has been a labour of love and craftsmanship with no expense spared to ensure the perfect 1920s look.
The family have relished the restoration process, and enjoyed starting up the business, but have decided to place it in the hands of an experienced hospitality operator who will appreciate the renovated heritage building and maximise its potential.
There is real potential to grow the local business and capitalise on the demand for venues that hold over 100 people.
The Ivory Bar has hosted a number of parties which have been a roaring success. The capacity is 185 inside with a floor space of 280m2, a venue size that would meet the demands of a variety of events from weddings to corporate events and private parties.
Soundproofing was carefully considered in its design, ensuring that one of New Zealand’s top bar sound systems can be enjoyed late into the evenings.
Rangiora is only a 25min drive on the new motor way from central Christchurch. The region is growing rapidly with several sub-divisions being built, increasing the population of the area daily. More developments are in the planning stages.
The property is to be sold by deadline sale on 21 December unless sold prior.
Contact: Samantha Chesterton, 021 029 78810
- Article supplied by Link
