English OE inspiration for The Londoner
Kelley Tantau pays a visit to The Londoner pub, as part of our series Your Local Publican.
Inside the Londoner Pub hangs a large clock permanently set at ten-to-six. Why? Because there’s always time for one more drink.
The pub, located along Hamilton’s main drag of Victoria Street, is owned by Gary and Val Hallett.
When it comes to running their English-themed haunt, providing good food and good booze is of the highest priority.
Gary and Val owned a similar pub in Hawkes Bay before they relocated to Hamilton in search of a site to run a brewery from.
‘‘We noticed there, any new beers that came through, everyone was interested in, because it was changing from the mainstream to the new,’’ Gary said.
‘‘That’s what got us into the brewing side of it. We did that for approximately five years and needed our own premise to go with it.’’
Although no longer running a brewery, the Hallett’s have owned The Londoner for around 12 years, and took inspiration from their two-year stint in Britannia.
‘‘Many moons ago, we did our OE and ended up working in English pubs in London,’’ Gary said. In those days, drinking began at lunchtime and pubs would cater to the demand of punters.
‘‘We’d open the doors at 11.30am, the first customer would be there at 11.35, and we used to shut the pubs down at 3pm so they’d all go back to work.
‘‘We’d reopen at 5.30pm and they’d be queuing up at the door,’’ he said.
The Londoner is decorated with traditional English furnishings: branded bar towels on the rafters, antique tap handles, and flags from across the United Kingdom on display.
‘‘The older it looks, the more authentic it becomes,’’ Gary said.
Bringing the British culture back to their own bars in New Zealand felt comfortable for the pair.
‘‘It was a niche that was comfortable and it was a niche that we brewed our own beer and sold it through our own premise,’’ Gary said.
‘‘You just hope that more people like your beer than don’t like your beer. When you’re a small brewery, you’re only as good as your last pint.’’
A beer has got to add value to your pub, Gary said. There’s no use having a beer for the sake of it.
‘‘Your portfolio of beers has got to cover a fairly wide clientele.’’
One of the biggest changes to the pub environment the Hallett’s have witnessed is that smokers now have to be seated outside.
‘‘You used to have some pubs that would have more ashtrays than glasses,’’ Gary said.
‘‘Back in London, we used to have a shelf full of different sorts of cigars.’’
The Londoner is located at 596 Victoria St, phone 07 839 9941 for info.
‘‘Your portfolio of beers has got to cover a fairly wide clientele’’ Owner Gary Hallett