Caledonian calls time after 129 years of service

KIRK HARGREAVES

LAST ORDERS: regular Bill Gardener makes the most of one of his last drinks at the Caledonian Hotel, which is closing.

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A Christchurch pub will call time after more than a century of history when it ceases trading tomorrow.

The Caledonian Hotel on Caledonian Road began life as the Rising Sun in 1865 under landlord Frederick Newnham. It became the Caledonian Hotel in 1878.

However, dwindling trade and increased competition have spelt the end for the bar and restaurant.

"It is a bit sad," said Grenville Tomich, who has managed the bar and restaurant for the last 12 years.

"There is a lot of history here. Originally it was a grocery shop with an off-licence and then it turned into a bar."

However, he said the land which the building stood on was now more valuable than the money it made as a pub.

"Twenty years ago there were something like 35 licences in the four avenues. How different is it now?" Tomich said.

"I've seen the changes take hold. I've seen all the other bars head into town. The drink-driving laws had an effect first of all.

"The smoking ban has definitely had an effect on business over the last three years."

The pub's regulars are now having to search for new places to drink.

"It has always been a real blue-collar bar," Tomich said.

"When I came here it was the Lincoln University pub as well. Then it went back to being a real working class man's pub.

"We have got regulars who have been coming here for 40 years. They were all a bit gutted, but it was not a surprise."

The premises were bought by Auckland-based Jonmer Projects Ltd three years ago and are being sold to make way for flats.

Sixty flats will be built on the 9474sq m site after the original building is demolished in the new year.

Furniture and fittings from the bar will be auctioned in the run-up to Christmas.

The 12 staff now working there have all found new jobs in Christchurch.

Tomich said he expected a large turnout for the last night of trading.

"I imagine that a lot of people will come out of the woodwork for their last drink," he said. Tomich said he had some mixed memories of the pub.

"There are good times and bad times. Of course, we had the fatal shooting here 10 years ago, which was tragic," Tomich said.

In June 1997, 23-year-old Glen Payne was shot and killed during an armed hold-up at the pub. Richard Dallas Tuhoro and Daniel Pou broke into the pub's bottle store with the intention of taking money from the till.

Despite claiming their cut-down . 22 rifle discharged accidentally, the two men were sent to prison for Payne's murder.

Their three accomplices, Patterson Charles Tekura, Tamati Wayne Robinson and Levi Manu Rushton, were imprisoned for his manslaughter.

More positive memories included mouse-racing along the bar and the day Tomich came to work to find a would-be burglar attached to the railings by his trousers in November 1999.

"That really was hilarious," Tomich said.

"He had been there for four hours and I think all the blood had run to his head. He could hardly speak."

Junior manager Carla Wilson said she felt sorry for "locals who practically live here".

"There are other pubs in the area but they are a lot smaller. A lot of the regulars are trying to find somewhere they can go where they will feel comfortable.

"There's a lot of history with the pub so a lot of people will have their own memories. There's hardly anyone who doesn't know of the Caledonian or hasn't had a drink here."

Joc Johnson, a painter who has been going to the pub for 20 years, said: "This is a good old local bar and it's good to come in after a long day's work and have a beer.

"Five years ago it used to be full. It used to be the Lincoln Uni Rugby Club bar. Cafes have taken a lot out of it and drink-driving laws as well."

Painter Bill Gardener said he had been going to the pub for 22 years.

"I love it," he said. "It's a great bar with a great atmosphere. I've seen fights here, there's been all sorts. I've got great mates here.

"We've got to go and that's it. We'll have to find somewhere else."

Retiree Shona Spillane said she would have fond memories of the pub cat Rumbo that sat at the bar.