Doors close at Waterfront Cafe

MARTIN DE RUYTER/Nelson Mail

OFF THE MENU: Carolyn Elkington and Peter Marquet are closing the Waterfront Cafe and Bar after five years of operating the Rocks Rd restaurant.

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Nelson's Waterfront Cafe has served its last meal – for now.

The owners of the Rocks Rd restaurant with sea views point to a number of reasons for the business's closure, including the need for a long-overdue break after five busy years.

Peter Marquet and Carolyn Elkington say closing the doors is also due to a slow winter, increased costs, increased competition and the recession.

"It's been a very quiet winter but we don't want to blame the recession entirely.

"There's also new faces in hospitality in Nelson and that's chipped away at our market share," Mr Marquet said.

The 50-seat restaurant was open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and served "modern food using the best in fresh local produce and ingredients the region has to offer".

The head chef had also resigned recently and the couple saw little point in hiring a new one because the business is on the market.

Mr Marquet said that considering the slim market, there were quite a few buyers at the table. "We feel that a sale is imminent in the short term. We are confident we will sell."

He said the cafe, bar and restaurant needed new faces and fresh energy and was situated in a prime spot.

"Look outside – compare that to sitting in town watching a wet road with cars going past."

The business had four other fulltime staff and two part-timers. The employees had all taken the news well.

"We were blessed with awesome staff. They took it well," said Ms Elkington.

The pair, who have both been in the industry for more than 20 years, bought the business five years ago. It was formally the Harbour Lights restaurant.

Mr Marquet said owning the business had been fun and a great learning experience.

"It's been a journey with our food and we tried to take our customers on that journey with us. We have come a long way."

Ms Elkington said they looked forward to having a break.

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