Prebbleton’s original hotel and pub set for Midas touch

Saturday, 19 October 2024

Nick Inkster, founding Proprietor of Inkster Company, took over the Prebbleton Village Tavern recently. Now he plans to renovate it early next year, rebranding it under its original name Prebbleton Hotel.

Prebbleton’s original hotel is getting the midas touch from a Christchurch bar owner who has converted a number of premises into popular haunts.

Inkster Company Ltd founder Nick Inkster added the Prebbleton Tavern to his portfolio of bars and restaurants in Canterbury four weeks ago after having his eye on it for a few years, he said.

“It’s such a beautiful old building, it is the landmark of Prebbleton.”

Nick Inkster, founding Proprietor of Inkster Company, plans to renovate the Prebbleton Tavern next year after taking it over. It will be rebranded the Prebbleton Hotel.

Inkster is known for transforming historic buildings including The Church, O.G.B Bar and Paddy McNaughton’s Irish Pub, and has Civil and Naval Bar, Austin Club and Fox and Ferret Shirley under his belt.

Nick Inkster, founding Proprietor of Inkster Company, has taken over the Prebbleton Tavern and will rebrand it as the Prebbleton Hotel. He plans to “really draw in families ... give them an offering Prebbleton deserves.”

He said the Prebbleton Tavern had an interesting background, like many of his ventures.

“It’s a cool story to tell. I want to keep that legacy going.”

Inkster has taken back the establishment’s original name, Prebbleton Hotel, instead of Prebbleton Tavern, and given it “a good tidy up” but the renovations to “give it a fresh look” would begin next year while remaining open, he said.

Nick Inkster, said The Prebbleton Tavern had an interesting background, like many of his ventures.

“We’ve got a designer on board who we use for all our pubs.

“We want to open it right up with bi-fold windows so people can see in and see out.”

He was looking forward to the project as a “doer-upper”.

Nick Inkster, founding Proprietor of Inkster Company (R), chats with former owners Marie and Merwyn Gilmore at the Prebbleton Village Tavern. I

“It’s hard doing a pub from scratch now. It’s good to take on an existing business that’s known to trade for years.”

The previous owners, Merwyn and Marie Gilmore, bought the pub in the early 1970s and in their twilight years their son Shannon Gilmore had been managing the site.

“They loved my concept and what we wanted to do.”

Nick Inkster has renovated a number of bars, including his most recent venture, The Church in central Christchurch.

The watering hole dates back to the 1800s when Edward Prebble built a shop in the 1860s and when liquor became the most profitable part of his business, he turned it into a hotel. The original building burned down and was rebuilt on the site.

“It’s such a cool corner,” Inkster said.

“About 20,000 cars a day drive past it.”

A “basic pub menu” has been introduced, including steak, egg and chips, but it will eventually have a menu that reflects the cuisine in his other pubs, he said.

“Think Church Pub and O.G.B but in the middle.

“Prebbleton’s going off. We want to really draw in families … give them an offering Prebbleton deserves.”