New level of comfort and service at Methven

Press, 24 June 1983, Page 20

New level of comfort and service at Methven

The Mt Hutt Country Club, which will be opened at Methven on Sunday, brings a new dimension to the level of accommodation and service available for visitors to the district.

Some 20 years ago, Methven was a quiet, rural town servicing mainly the high country and plains’ farmers but it has since slowly transformed into a touristoriented centre. Accommodation for skiers has been the big growth industry there during the last decade. Development has quickened during the last few years and the advent of the Mt Hutt Country

Club marks a milestone in the town’s development as a tourist resort.

The club, with its slogan of “Where only the best will do,” will be opened by the chairman of the Ashburton County Council, Mr W. A. Hart.

The luxurious, 21-room club is the work of two families — the Cohen family, of Melbourne, and the Shearer family, of Methven — and was born from some glowing reports of Methven heard in Victoria.

It is to be managed by Stephen Cohen, who came to Methven last year to do some ski-ing and investigate the need for a lodge.

He met Terry Shearer while at Methven; the two families became friends, business partners, and the fruit of their labour can now be found at Hall Street, Methven, just near the Mt Hutt Hall.

Shearer Bros, the wellknown, Methven-based builders have built the complex, which was designed by the architect, Trevor Ibbetson.

Both are pleased withh Mr Ibbetson’s concept, which has drawn heavily upon natural materials. The exterior of the building is of white pine and all of the inside lining is of tongue and groove —22 km of it.

There is a woollen carpet, rimu lines the inside walls and .white pine tongue and groove reaches up the raked ceilings, which rest upon heavy, sawn trusses.

From walking into the reception area, the touch of luxury pervades,, while the materials used also bring some ruggedness and warmth to the senses that can be imagined from a country lodge.

Mt Hutt beckons through many of the windows of the club, which centres around a recreation area comprising a sauna and spa area, and which will later contain a swimming pool. Each of the rooms has ensuite facilities. Most rooms have doubles beds, and the club can cater for

up to 56 people, with one room designed for paraplegics.

While Mt Hutt and its world-renowned ski-field looms large on the horizon, the venture is not just aimed at the ski season or, as Mr Cohen put it, “not just a winter wonder.”

The “Republic of Snowfed,” as Methven is becoming known, is gaining a reputation as a year-round tourist attraction with plenty of “off-ski” attractions such as jet boating, fishing and rafting for tourists to enjoy.

Mr Cohen said that the bulk of guests during winter, of course, would be skiers from overseas but the aim of the complex was to cater for the domestic market through the rest of the year.

As well as casual guests, the club has introduced the time-sharing concept for holiday-makers, and for a membership fee, people can take a room for a week over a 10-year period.

The restaurant, which can cater for up to 85 diners and is also open to the public, is under the direction of the chef, Peter Dell, who is described by Mr Cohen as “excellent.”

Mr Cohen said that he had found not only an indication of a need for higherstandard accommodation that would appeal to skiers, but an off-season demand for the same concept from other parts of Canterbury, and that he expected it would eventually reach further.

The bar and restaurant areas have purposely been kept intimate and it is expected that one sector of the “local clientele” will be people from Christchurch who will spend a week-end at Methven to enjoy the a-la-carte meals prepared by Mr Dell, and the amenities.

With his optimism for a year-round venture in a centre that has a big reputation for its winter attraction, Mr Cohen blends in a little caution: “We don’t think we are the magical cure for the summer but it is our intention to stay open.” The partners feel that Methven will continue to grow as a year-round resort,

Just as it grew as a winter resort. The advent of extra attractions, such as the Country Club, will help the growth.

As a winter attraction, Mr Cohen says he is impressed by Methven. From an Australian point of view, the time and cost spent getting to Mt Hutt from the state capitals compares favourably with getting to their own ski-fields, and, in some cases, it can be quicker.

Added to that is the long, reliable season for which Mt Hutt is renowned.

Mr Cohen says he is also impressed with the Kiwi style of getting things done.

“Throughout, the thing that impressed me about Methven was the degree of positiveness to development. Everyone we have had to deal with has been of great assistance in getting going or helping to get our project off the ground — from the Government to the local council, the promotion association to the building trades,”’ ,Mr Cohen said.

There certainly was no slacking on construction of the Mt Hutt Country Club. It took 70 days to build the 3021 sq m complex, all to “top-shelf” standard.