The chef has planned his menu; rooms are in use, and the bar is stocked with drinks.

Yesterday, the Royal Hotel’s new family restaurant was awaiting the processing of council compliance documents ahead of opening the doors for lunch.

Hospitality trade identity Al Unsworth, pictured above, purchased the hotel earlier this year, and his builders have been hard at work over the past few weeks giving it a facelift.

The establishment’s 10 backpacker rooms and five motel units have been upgraded.

The bar has been spruced up and decorated with historic paintings and photos; hospitality staff are assigned to their duties, and outside, landscaping is under way.

The project was running well within its $100,000 budget, with most of the work centred on cleaning.

“Christmas bookings are mounting up with six already taken from local businesses,” Mr Unsworth said.

“My vision is somewhere to get a nice meal in pleasant surroundings, safe, clean and tidy.

“We do have a casual drinking area where you can have a beer, but there will be a dress code at all times.

“We’re setting a standard from the word go.”

Mr Unsworth is delighted to have taken on an experienced and talented chef.

“He’s a great chef – he’s been cooking three meals a day for us so we can test him out and we can’t fault one of them.”

The menu comprised many old favourites done well, the dishes including crispy beef tacos, pork belly, barbecue spareribs, braised lamb shanks, Moroccan and Thai Green Curry chicken and a roast of the day.

Located opposite the library, at the intersection of Church and King streets, the two-storey hotel was built between 1870 and 1872, then reconstructed in 1908-09.  

The hotel recalls an era when Ōpōtiki was the Eastern Bay’s main commercial centre.

Fund and awareness-raising quiz night at the Royal

Ōpōtiki Rangatahi Pā is seeking community and business support for a fundraising quiz night on November 15.

Ōpōtiki Rangatahi Pā founder Alex Le Long said the quiz night at the Royal Hotel would raise funds and awareness for their vision for a safe, vibrant youth space in Ōpōtiki.

She established Ōpōtiki Rangatahi Pā as a place for growth, learning, creativity, and hauora – a home base where young people can thrive and feel proud of who they are.

“The evening will also give us the chance to share our feasibility study, dreams, and vision with the wider community.

“We want to bring everyone along on this journey of building something special for our tamariki, rangatahi and our community.”

They are looking for sponsorship in the form of:

■ Donations (vouchers/prizes for quiz rounds, raffles, or spot prizes)
■ Kai or beverage support for the evening
■ Koha towards costs of hosting the event (venue, printing, promotion)
■ Participating in the Quiz Night – put a team of six together – $20 per person or $500 per business team and have your organisation be recognised as one of the kaupapa partners

To koha online, go to https://opencollective.com/te-ariroa-evolutions/projects/opotiki-rangatahi-pa-or-youth

For more information, email [email protected]