New Zealand catering royalty selling their ‘culinary campus’
They have served, fed and privately dined with kings and queens. Our Government has sent them to far corners of the world to produce meals featuring the best of New Zealand’s produce for presidents, prime ministers and the particularly rich, but now a world famous Kapiti couple are retiring and selling their landmark operations centre.
Ruth and Paul Pretty are themselves New Zealand culinary ‘royalty’. Since 1988 they have sat atop the tree of this country’s caterers to the stars, literally, having catered for the premieres of films including Lord of the Rings and King Kong.
They have been the caterers at Wellington’s Government House and Premier House, catered for most of the immediate Royal Family and innumerable world leaders. Ruth’s cook books are a staple in countless homes and restaurants.
At their peak, 24 chefs were employed at the 8 hectare, partly native bush, rural Te Horo base with mostly architecturally designed buildings of more than 1200 square metres. It is this ‘Culinary Campus’ at 41 School Road that is now for sale by tender.
The sale excludes the Pretty’s adjoining homestead ‘Springfield’ on a separate title. It is here they will retire. Meaning whoever buys the commercial kitchen and all that goes with it, will have someone close-by to call if a dish requires a second opinion!
The property is being marketed by agents Gollins Commercial and Principal Chris Gollins said an important distinction, advantageous to some potential purchasers, is that the “Ruth Pretty” business is not being sold.
“The business will close on May 12th. Goodwill that attaches to the property comes at no charge.
“From the 14th there will be a closing down sale to clear the popular ‘kitchen’ shop and most chattels will remain on site awaiting the purchaser’s decision as to what they may want to retain. The cafe and all associated activity could well reopen under new owners.
“The Resource Consent for food production for off-site use is in place as well as a Food
Control Plan for on-site consumption, so who knows,” said Gollins.
The sale is by tender, closing on May 28th. As our Government’s contracted operator of New Zealand-themed restaurants at World Expos in Tokyo and Shanghai, the America’s Cup in Valencia, the Millennium Cup in Palma de Mallorca and the VIP “Cloud” at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, the combination of Ruth’s culinary skill and Paul’s logistical expertise were frequently tested. A full kitchen, all crockery and cutlery, utensils and much more were skillfully shipped from Te Horo, accompanied by chefs and waiting staff who would spend months at the foreign venues.
“A passageway of the original building, designed by architects Craig Craig & Moller is jokingly referred to by Ruth and Paul as the ‘hall of fame’. There are numerous photos of celebrities, world leaders, and some extraordinary letters of appreciation. My favourite, the then Prince Charles, thanking Ruth for her sun dried tomato sandwich recipe, shared over a long discussion of common interests at Premier House. Having catered many private dinners there both Paul and Ruth singled out John Key as having exceptional skills as a host, able to charm and relax all guests,” said Gollins.
With the Prettys retaining their home next to the 8 hectare title a purchaser may want to build a home for themselves amid the trees and native bush. Principal Planner, Bryce Holmes at Kapiti’s specialist Consent Planners, Land Matters Ltd, said a home can be built on-site “as of right”.