- Ricky Quirk is selling his Ashhurst estate to move closer to his son’s school.
- The property features extensive outdoor living, including a bar, pool and mini-golf course.
- Listing agent says Palmerston North’s housing market has been quite lively.
A nightclub owner who launched the “Holy Grail” of late-night venues is selling his country estate on the north-eastern fringe of Palmerston North.
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Ricky Quirk, who runs George Hospitality Group, hasn’t had time to enjoy his creation thanks to work pressures. He told OneRoof he was selling 20 Ashgrove Lane, in Ashhurst, to move closer to his son’s school.
When Quirk bought the 5323sqm property in January 2025 for $1.55 million, it was a fairly standard lifestyle block.
He quickly transformed it into his own, creating 250sqm of outdoor living that would be the neighbourhood’s party hub ... if he weren’t working around the clock.
“I basically bought a lifestyle block with a normal three-bedroom property on it. But I wanted some indoor-outdoor flow, and I took it to another level.” That meant a bar, pizza area, an outdoor kitchen, swimming pool, spa, a water slide, mini-golf course and more. Quirk, a hospitality heavyweight, joked: “You don’t need to leave to go on holiday. It’s a wonderland.”
The compound turned resort means you don’t need to leave home for a holiday, Quirk told OneRoof. Photo / Supplied
Quirk recreated the bar from his venue Shooters in his own home. Photo / Supplied
Other notable extras include a geodesic glamping dome and an impressive dog run for the family’s beloved spaniel retriever, Goldie.
However, Quirk hasn’t had time to host parties, and his son isn’t old enough yet to appreciate having a hangout home.
The Quirks are busy people and have made an offer on a 93-year-old home close to the George Hospitality Group’s venues in Palmerston North, which include Teacher Teacher, Speedway Garage Palmerston North, Traders, Neighbourhood, Hilltop, Farmers Son, Finnegans, and new additions Holy Smoke and Holy Grail.
The Holy Grail nightclub replaces iconic venue The Daily and is aimed at an upmarket clientele. It’s open Friday and Saturday nights from 11pm to 3am, with an international DJ lineup, and state‑of‑the‑art lighting and sound. “It’s a premium offering," said Quirk. “It’s a five-star fit-out.”
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He added: “Three of our venues cater for the late-night 18 to 25-year-old age bracket. Having students, Air Force and Army all in town, there is a fairly large catchment of people.”
Quirk’s four-bedroom property is also targeting an upmarket buyer, with the 2024 RV of $1.5m not enough to secure the keys.
Property Brokers agent Rachal Te Awe Awe describes the four-bedroom, 271sqm home as “a masterclass in luxury entertaining”. It’s the third Quirk home she has sold. “Ricky always creates masterpieces with his houses. That’s a reflection of what he has created [in hospitality]. He has a design flair and an eye for detail.”
Within a day of the listing going live, Te Awe Awe had five viewings lined up. “It’s been received really well because it is so unique. People thinking build costs are quite expensive. The house was built in 2021, but it looks like a brand-new build because it’s so well-looked after. Even [the photographer] said it was probably one of the best outdoor areas he’s seen in about 15 years. It’s just amazing. You walk in, and you feel like a kid in a wonderland. So, there are families looking and people who love entertaining.”
The extensive outdoor area is signposted, with even the beloved dog’s kennel on the map. Photo / Supplied
She added: “Just based on the amount of interest. The rateable value doesn’t reflect all the work [Quirk has] done.”
Te Awe Awe said the market in Palmerston North had been quite busy. “People are still buying and selling properties [over] $1.6m in Palmerston North. I had a multi-offer on a property a couple of days ago in Hokowhitu. It was on the market for a week, and I had six offers. It sold for $90,000 above rateable value.”
Te Awe Awe also pointed to activity in Palmerston North’s first-home buyer market. “There’s probably a lot on the market between high [$400,000s] and maybe [$600,000]. There is quite an influx of first-home buyer, investor-type properties. There are a few of those around, but if they’re fairly priced, well-presented and well marketed, they’re flying out the door pretty quickly still.”
- 20 Ashgrove Lane, Ashhurst, Palmerston North, is for sale by negotiation
