120 | Awards flow for owners Geraldine Holiday Park took out the supreme award at the TOP 10 Awards 2023. T T Richard Loader Refurbished and ready for business LEISURE Geraldine TOP 10 T T Kelly Deeks The Bridge Bar & Restaurant In their final year of ownership of Geraldine TOP 10 Holiday Park, Kathryn and Brian Horrell and park managers and new owners Howard and Leanne Brockie have taken out the Supreme Award and four more awards at the TOP 10 Awards 2023. Kathryn and Brian have leased the park for an amazing 24 years, and they picked well with its beautiful woodland setting in a fantastic town centre location. Kathryn and Brian have been a TOP 10 for just over five years, and they appreciate the extra business brought by the trusted brand, and the unwavering support from the TOP 10 head office and fellow TOP 10 Park operators. “You can’t just join TOP 10, you have to be asked,” Kathryn says. “They choose their parks very carefully and if you don’t meet the standards, you can be asked to leave.” No such trouble for Kathryn and Brian, who have always maintained their facility to the highest possible standard, keeping it clean and tidy, and giving a great first impression for every guest, but we couldn’t have achieved this without the loyal staff we have had over the years . All the more important then that they found the perfect replacements in Howard and Leanne. “We really wanted to make sure when we sold the park it would keep going the same as we have, as we’ve built a reputation and it’s such an asset for the community and the businesses here in Geraldine.” Geraldine TOP 10 has recovered well since Covid and was lucky enough to maintain business once lockdowns ceased. With a predominantly domestic guest base a lot of repeat business, and its close proximity to Christchurch, Geraldine provided a safe place not too far from home for people heading out for their first post-Covid holidays. “You don’t have to travel hundreds of miles to get a bit of scenery,” Brian says. The market has changed again and the cost of living crisis is now being felt chiefly by the middle socio-economic demographic that New Zealand holiday parks target. “Some of our customers are now having to make choices between filling the grocery trolley or taking a long weekend away with the family,” Brian says. “People are starting to recognise that TOP 10 has motels and apartments, and some are five star quality, as well as tent sites, so we have accommodation to suit all budgets. Kathryn and Brian are happy to leave Geraldine TOP 10 in the safe hands of Howard and Leanne, and Howard and Leanne in the safe hands of TOP 10. Their award success was a great way to finish their time. After being closed for the past three years, the iconic The Bridge Restaurant and Bar has been completely refurbished and reopened, bringing a unique dining, drinking and socialising option to the fast-growing community of Prebbleton. The Bridge’s new owners, Murray and Melissa Smith are hospitality veterans who have spent the past few years refining operations at their other business, the nearby Tai Tapu Hotel. Sole owner for the past seven years, Murray set about adding amenities and atmosphere, making the local watering hole the place to be for locals and visitors all year round. Melissa joined Murray in his efforts in 2020, bringing her female touch to The Tap and she enjoyed being involved so much that her own nail distribution and education business Miss Bliss had to take a back seat, and was recently sold. Murray the go getter husband saw this as an opportunity not to be missed which led to him signing the lease for The Bridge in August 2023. “We both remember going there 20odd years ago and it was amazing,” she says. “Murray is born and bred in Prebbleton, all of our friends in the area would always go to The Bridge. It was the place everyone went to and it was a really cool place. We wanted to bring it back to its former glory in honour of the original owners Liz and the late Keith, who built The Bridge in 2000.” After an enormous renovation, designed by award-winning architect Jennifer Warring who believed in Murray and Melissa’s vision and followed through without hesitation, The Bridge was re-opened on November 12, Cup Day. “It was a bit of a crazy day to open, but it was awesome. We were so busy, then we’ve had a really busy holiday period too, so now we’re coming down from that and we can start to have a look at what we want to do with our menu.” Tai Tapu Hotel’s fantastic head chef Manjit 03 687 8004 | email@gressons.co.nz | www.gressons.co.nz Proud to provide legal support to Geraldine TOP 10 Holiday Park Commercial Resource Management Property & Conveyancing Specialise in managing the insurance risk for small to medium businesses Contact Bruce Gray to arrange a meeting 027 456 0045 | bruce@aicrisk.co.nz aicrisk.co.nz Proud to support Geraldine Top 10 FURNITURE & JOINERY 03 349 0150 marlexfurn@xtra.co.nz 20b Klondyke Drive, Christchurch info@ampdelectrical.co.nz 027 581 6141 www.ampdelectrical.co.nz For all your electrical needs, Canterbury wide
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