Playhouse cafe to be reopened
The Playhouse Cafe near Mapua is under new management and will be back up and running in the new year.
The new owners of the Playhouse Cafe are Nic Roland, a former Television New Zealand news director, and Manuela Fuhrimann, a Swiss-trained chef with more than 10 years' experience. Ms Fuhrimann has worked around the world, as far away as Europe and as close as the Alpine Lodge in St Arnaud.
The restaurant will open on January 27, but will hold an opening function in the new year.
The restaurant closed earlier this year and the company of former owners Rob and Susan Moles was placed into liquidation. A new lessee took over the restaurant, but gave up on the venture after a matter of weeks.
Mr Roland said he was aware of the cafe's history, but hoped people could look past that. He had a passion for music and the arts and would maintain the theme of the restaurant, with theatre dining once a month. The couple hoped to host touring musicians and entertainment, but shift the venue's focus to holding events and functions.
After looking around Central Otago, they came to Nelson for a holiday and fell in love with the Playhouse and its potential.
"It just had such a great vibe."
They would encourage community groups, schools and charities to approach them with their ideas and events and would be willing to allow the use of the stage and lighting for little or no charge.
"(We) are truly looking forward to joining the local area and would like to add to the community spirit as much as possible."
They would also host market day once a month.
