New facilities in village complex

Press, 30 January 1986, Page 23

New facilities in village complex

Since it was first opened in 1981, the Akaroa Village, now called the Akaroa Village Inn, has expanded to include more suites and better facilities for visitors.

A new ground-floor restaurant bar, a honeymoon suite, a water-bed suite, and a new reception and craft shop area have been added. “It’s taken about nine months to do it all, but it has certainly made a big difference” said Mrs Carol Ilton, who co-man-ages the inn with her husband, Dennis.

According to Mrs Ilton, all these new additions, plus the benefit of a better telephone system, have made life much easier for visitors and staff alike.

The ground-floor restaurant bar was originally known as the Lighthouse Bar, but this name was removed when the upstairs part of the bar was revamped to make a second conference room. This new conference room adjoins the original one by a fold-back door, which, when catering for large groups, can be opened out to full capacity.

The bar is decorated in mellow pinks and greys. Stained glass windows have been repositioned into the original bar, and new tiles layed on the floor. Situated on the Bruce Terrace side of the inn, the bar seats 30.

The water-bed suite is very much a cottage-type unit. This unit has a spabath, similar to the honeymoon suite, but with room only for one. The wall coverings are white with pale blue print, and the carpet is pale blue.

Apart from the special floor and wall coverings, the spa bath, and waterbed, this unit has the usual separate two-seater couch and small dining table for two.

Also refurbished is the reception and craft shop area which also overlooks a wonderful view of the Akaroa Harbour. The total number of suites at the Akaroa Village Inn has grown from 14, in 1984, to 32 this year. Three of these units were renovated from the old Brasell’s Motel. The motel received a $15,000 face-lift in 1984, and was renamed The Village Motels. The three new units have full cooking facilities and are ideal for family holidays and week-ends.

The village also houses a licensed restaurant, spa and indoor pool, and a take-away outlet. Restaurant patrons, as well as hotel guests, can use the pool. The whole complex has been built to blend, rather than conflict, with the French style of architecture for which Akaroa is so well known throughout New Zealand.