1 00:00:09,093 --> 00:00:11,972 Speaker 1: You're listening to a podcast from News Talk zed B. 2 00:00:12,373 --> 00:00:16,133 Speaker 1: Follow this and our Wide Ranger podcasts now on iHeartRadio. 3 00:00:17,173 --> 00:00:20,533 Speaker 2: Arguably one of the most iconic hotels in New Zealand, 4 00:00:20,533 --> 00:00:25,172 Speaker 2: the Kadrona Hotel. It is set for sale later this year. 5 00:00:25,332 --> 00:00:28,093 Speaker 2: The owner is asked for offers in a month's time, 6 00:00:28,173 --> 00:00:30,533 Speaker 2: but it is looking like it's setting the record as 7 00:00:30,573 --> 00:00:33,893 Speaker 2: New Zealand's most viewed for sale property of all time. 8 00:00:34,533 --> 00:00:36,452 Speaker 2: This morning it was at twenty eight thousand, and we'll 9 00:00:36,453 --> 00:00:38,693 Speaker 2: find out how many people who have looked very shortly. 10 00:00:38,773 --> 00:00:42,892 Speaker 2: But the owner of the Kadrona Hotel is Caid Thornton 11 00:00:42,933 --> 00:00:46,253 Speaker 2: and he joins us on the line right now. Cade, 12 00:00:46,333 --> 00:00:47,252 Speaker 2: very good afternoon to. 13 00:00:47,213 --> 00:00:49,612 Speaker 3: You, Good afternoon to you. How are you? 14 00:00:49,973 --> 00:00:50,292 Speaker 4: Very good? 15 00:00:50,373 --> 00:00:52,293 Speaker 5: Thanks, Kate, tell us the story about how you become 16 00:00:52,373 --> 00:00:54,773 Speaker 5: the you became the owner of the Codrona Pub. 17 00:00:55,533 --> 00:01:00,373 Speaker 3: It's a long time ago now, twenty twelve. We Mate 18 00:01:00,373 --> 00:01:03,493 Speaker 3: and I were looking for changes after the earthquakes and 19 00:01:03,573 --> 00:01:07,773 Speaker 3: Christis and organized a bit of a getaway in the dune, 20 00:01:08,413 --> 00:01:10,413 Speaker 3: a bit of a roach around the South Island and 21 00:01:10,733 --> 00:01:14,373 Speaker 3: came across the Cadrona Hotel. Loved it. Never knew it 22 00:01:14,453 --> 00:01:16,453 Speaker 3: was the sale. I've got a great photo my business 23 00:01:16,453 --> 00:01:19,533 Speaker 3: partner walking in in the pouring rain, and then we've 24 00:01:19,572 --> 00:01:23,012 Speaker 3: got the crisis, sudden look at options, they didn't look out. 25 00:01:23,093 --> 00:01:24,932 Speaker 3: And then it was my mother who found this place 26 00:01:24,932 --> 00:01:28,572 Speaker 3: of sale. We thought, oh, well that wanted about afford 27 00:01:28,613 --> 00:01:30,133 Speaker 3: that or I got we'll go down and have a look. 28 00:01:30,773 --> 00:01:33,853 Speaker 3: And yeah, one thing led to another and after six 29 00:01:33,893 --> 00:01:36,452 Speaker 3: months we ended up owning it. I'm still probably in shock. 30 00:01:36,533 --> 00:01:40,053 Speaker 4: Actually, what do you think. 31 00:01:40,013 --> 00:01:44,973 Speaker 5: The Kdrona Hotel has captured the imagination of the country 32 00:01:45,013 --> 00:01:46,493 Speaker 5: now and for the longest time? 33 00:01:46,693 --> 00:01:48,573 Speaker 4: What is it about it? Because it's a magical place. 34 00:01:50,013 --> 00:01:53,493 Speaker 3: Yeah, I don't know what, there's not one thing I think. 35 00:01:54,093 --> 00:01:56,573 Speaker 3: I mean, it's been you know, in famous in New 36 00:01:56,653 --> 00:02:01,053 Speaker 3: Zealans forever. I think in space that went a long 37 00:02:01,093 --> 00:02:03,733 Speaker 3: way to help that. And I just think geographically where 38 00:02:03,773 --> 00:02:06,413 Speaker 3: it is, you know, it's between two tourist towns. Everyone visits, 39 00:02:06,453 --> 00:02:10,853 Speaker 3: so it gets it gets gets noticed, I think, and 40 00:02:10,973 --> 00:02:14,413 Speaker 3: in our time social media has become huge, so that's 41 00:02:14,453 --> 00:02:17,813 Speaker 3: really taken it internationally famous as well. I think everyone 42 00:02:17,853 --> 00:02:19,252 Speaker 3: who comes to the Zealand's got the photo. 43 00:02:19,532 --> 00:02:21,213 Speaker 2: Yeah, Oh, it's on a hell of a lot of postcards. 44 00:02:21,213 --> 00:02:24,093 Speaker 2: There's for sure, this will be hard question for your kide, 45 00:02:24,133 --> 00:02:26,973 Speaker 2: but one or two of your best memories is owning 46 00:02:27,573 --> 00:02:28,972 Speaker 2: the hotel. What would they be. 47 00:02:32,493 --> 00:02:38,013 Speaker 3: Best memories? Well, just just running the icon, you know, 48 00:02:38,293 --> 00:02:41,653 Speaker 3: twelve years worth of memory, really is There's so much 49 00:02:42,053 --> 00:02:46,773 Speaker 3: that goes on and just just being part of it. 50 00:02:46,773 --> 00:02:49,213 Speaker 3: It's always amazing when it snows bringing people out, you know, 51 00:02:49,293 --> 00:02:53,813 Speaker 3: that's always a really really fun time, beautiful time, you know, 52 00:02:54,653 --> 00:02:56,053 Speaker 3: very different to the rest of the country. When you 53 00:02:56,093 --> 00:02:59,572 Speaker 3: get to snow on the ground around the business, it's 54 00:03:00,173 --> 00:03:02,493 Speaker 3: I don't know, there's so many Prince Terry coming that 55 00:03:02,653 --> 00:03:04,572 Speaker 3: was always memorable. I've got married and had kids in 56 00:03:04,613 --> 00:03:09,333 Speaker 3: the time we've been here. It's just too many really, yeah, and. 57 00:03:09,213 --> 00:03:10,653 Speaker 4: So and what well you miss the most about it? 58 00:03:10,653 --> 00:03:13,133 Speaker 5: When when you when you leave and where are you going? 59 00:03:13,893 --> 00:03:15,853 Speaker 3: Well, we're going to stay local with a family. We're 60 00:03:15,853 --> 00:03:17,893 Speaker 3: going to stay living here, but we actually plan to 61 00:03:18,493 --> 00:03:20,213 Speaker 3: travel around Australia for a year when we get the 62 00:03:20,213 --> 00:03:24,493 Speaker 3: time and everything sorted. Just once again, like the memories 63 00:03:24,532 --> 00:03:27,013 Speaker 3: of owning it. That will be the sad thing for me, 64 00:03:27,333 --> 00:03:29,252 Speaker 3: not owning it, But it is time for us. This 65 00:03:29,693 --> 00:03:30,453 Speaker 3: time for us to go. 66 00:03:31,613 --> 00:03:33,773 Speaker 5: So a lot of people are obviously looking at this. 67 00:03:33,853 --> 00:03:35,453 Speaker 5: And as soon as I saw that it was on 68 00:03:35,493 --> 00:03:38,613 Speaker 5: the market, the Katrona Hotel, I texted my I text 69 00:03:38,653 --> 00:03:41,333 Speaker 5: my partner. I said, we should buy this, We should 70 00:03:41,453 --> 00:03:42,213 Speaker 5: we should move there. 71 00:03:42,253 --> 00:03:43,853 Speaker 4: There's a really romantic idea of it. 72 00:03:43,933 --> 00:03:45,973 Speaker 5: You move there, you become a member of the community, 73 00:03:46,013 --> 00:03:49,213 Speaker 5: you serve people at such an iconic place. But how 74 00:03:49,253 --> 00:03:51,973 Speaker 5: hard is it to actually run something like the Kadrona Hotel, 75 00:03:52,053 --> 00:03:55,093 Speaker 5: Because I imagine the romantic idea of it. The rubber 76 00:03:55,133 --> 00:03:56,573 Speaker 5: hits the road pretty soon, and there's quite a lot 77 00:03:56,613 --> 00:03:57,533 Speaker 5: of hard work involved. 78 00:03:58,373 --> 00:04:00,413 Speaker 3: Yeah, there's not not men like put your seat up, 79 00:04:00,533 --> 00:04:04,853 Speaker 3: drinking and wine in front of the fire. It's oh, 80 00:04:04,933 --> 00:04:07,533 Speaker 3: it's been grunt of a business these days. We've nearly 81 00:04:07,573 --> 00:04:10,693 Speaker 3: got fifty star half a year round. You know, in 82 00:04:10,733 --> 00:04:12,813 Speaker 3: the old days, winter was bigger than summer. Now summers 83 00:04:12,853 --> 00:04:15,413 Speaker 3: bigger than winter. I'm looking out the office window at 84 00:04:15,413 --> 00:04:17,092 Speaker 3: the moment and the place is fall to the brim 85 00:04:17,093 --> 00:04:19,933 Speaker 3: of skiers. It was always got a great, great vibe, 86 00:04:19,933 --> 00:04:23,573 Speaker 3: super positive place to work and community to enjoy. But 87 00:04:23,773 --> 00:04:27,173 Speaker 3: it's a I'm a hands on person. This is the 88 00:04:27,173 --> 00:04:30,413 Speaker 3: way I've always run it and it's yeah, it's just 89 00:04:30,453 --> 00:04:33,853 Speaker 3: consuming like any hospital business. But that's that's what a 90 00:04:33,853 --> 00:04:36,413 Speaker 3: lot of people thrive on, you know, and the right 91 00:04:36,453 --> 00:04:39,293 Speaker 3: person will just continue on like I have. Really it's 92 00:04:39,453 --> 00:04:41,493 Speaker 3: it's you know, there's good days and bed days, but 93 00:04:41,773 --> 00:04:42,733 Speaker 3: that's any business, right. 94 00:04:43,973 --> 00:04:46,053 Speaker 5: So what would you be main advice be for the 95 00:04:46,133 --> 00:04:47,813 Speaker 5: for the new owners when you when you hand over 96 00:04:47,853 --> 00:04:49,413 Speaker 5: the keys, what. 97 00:04:49,333 --> 00:04:51,813 Speaker 3: Did the staff say, come on, push, push, you know, 98 00:04:52,053 --> 00:04:54,813 Speaker 3: work hard with work card with a smile. I think 99 00:04:54,853 --> 00:04:57,413 Speaker 3: you know that's probably the big thing. Just keep working. 100 00:04:57,413 --> 00:04:59,893 Speaker 3: I mean, you know, and sometimes you know, the best 101 00:04:59,933 --> 00:05:01,853 Speaker 3: decisions that you make I can make here in the 102 00:05:01,933 --> 00:05:04,053 Speaker 3: day sometimes aren't the best decision for me. There the 103 00:05:04,053 --> 00:05:07,133 Speaker 3: best decision for the pub, you know, and you know 104 00:05:07,413 --> 00:05:10,133 Speaker 3: in a long term and sometimes you know that it 105 00:05:10,253 --> 00:05:12,053 Speaker 3: may not even be the best decision for the business 106 00:05:12,053 --> 00:05:14,693 Speaker 3: on that day. But I'm always taking a long term due. 107 00:05:15,253 --> 00:05:17,373 Speaker 3: I think it's probably listening in good Steed over the years. 108 00:05:17,533 --> 00:05:19,373 Speaker 2: Yeah, so I've met and his partner. I want to 109 00:05:19,373 --> 00:05:21,693 Speaker 2: make an offer. How long have they got to present 110 00:05:21,733 --> 00:05:23,853 Speaker 2: their offer to your kid? Well? 111 00:05:24,013 --> 00:05:27,133 Speaker 3: Expression Adventures closed on the fifteenth of allgress have you 112 00:05:27,253 --> 00:05:29,133 Speaker 3: so you know you've got to get your offer in 113 00:05:29,213 --> 00:05:31,213 Speaker 3: by then, plenty of homework to do. 114 00:05:31,453 --> 00:05:32,933 Speaker 4: Have you got have you got a number in mind? 115 00:05:33,853 --> 00:05:34,933 Speaker 3: I've got a number of mine. 116 00:05:36,693 --> 00:05:38,773 Speaker 2: It's an ulterior motive here. He just wanted to try 117 00:05:38,773 --> 00:05:40,013 Speaker 2: and screw you dout on it. 118 00:05:40,133 --> 00:05:41,733 Speaker 5: Just by the way you say that, it sounds like 119 00:05:41,733 --> 00:05:42,853 Speaker 5: a bigger number than I've got. 120 00:05:44,573 --> 00:05:46,213 Speaker 3: I can't believe how popular it's been. I just looking 121 00:05:46,253 --> 00:05:47,733 Speaker 3: trade me in. What's thirty three thousand? 122 00:05:47,893 --> 00:05:48,133 Speaker 4: Yeah? 123 00:05:48,173 --> 00:05:48,413 Speaker 1: Wow? 124 00:05:48,813 --> 00:05:51,493 Speaker 3: About ten thousand hits on our the website we've built 125 00:05:51,533 --> 00:05:54,253 Speaker 3: for the sale, you know, so forty thousand, that's what 126 00:05:54,293 --> 00:05:56,493 Speaker 3: I'm taking of that. There's a lot of emails coming in. 127 00:05:56,533 --> 00:05:58,853 Speaker 3: There's a huge amount of interest from from the right 128 00:05:58,893 --> 00:06:00,013 Speaker 3: people too, which is great. 129 00:06:00,133 --> 00:06:02,293 Speaker 5: Well, it's a testament to not only the history of 130 00:06:02,333 --> 00:06:05,213 Speaker 5: the pub and it's iconic nature, but how well you've 131 00:06:05,253 --> 00:06:07,613 Speaker 5: run it for the last twelve twelve years, because it's 132 00:06:07,653 --> 00:06:10,013 Speaker 5: it's only grown and it's influenced across the country since 133 00:06:10,013 --> 00:06:10,533 Speaker 5: you've been there. 134 00:06:10,573 --> 00:06:12,493 Speaker 4: So something for you to be very proud of. 135 00:06:13,373 --> 00:06:14,933 Speaker 3: Oh, thank you very much. It's very kind. 136 00:06:15,613 --> 00:06:18,533 Speaker 2: Kate, all the very best, and thanks very much for 137 00:06:18,533 --> 00:06:19,213 Speaker 2: having to yect. 138 00:06:19,013 --> 00:06:20,573 Speaker 3: With us, no worries. 139 00:06:20,613 --> 00:06:22,293 Speaker 2: Thank you for your time, all right, go Well, that 140 00:06:22,573 --> 00:06:25,773 Speaker 2: is Caid Thornton, the current owner of the Katrona hotel 141 00:06:25,853 --> 00:06:27,973 Speaker 2: and pub currently up for sale, and if you want 142 00:06:27,973 --> 00:06:29,413 Speaker 2: to make a bit, you've got to get in by 143 00:06:29,413 --> 00:06:32,173 Speaker 2: the fifteenth of August. Go Hi, go hi. 144 00:06:33,773 --> 00:06:35,093 Speaker 4: I'm just texting him a number now. 145 00:06:36,293 --> 00:06:38,013 Speaker 2: It's going to be too low already. 146 00:06:38,733 --> 00:06:41,333 Speaker 5: If I do buy it and we move down there, 147 00:06:41,333 --> 00:06:44,173 Speaker 5: me and my partner, you'll have to move down as well, Tyler, Yes, 148 00:06:44,173 --> 00:06:45,813 Speaker 5: because we'll have to sit up the studio at the back. 149 00:06:45,893 --> 00:06:47,573 Speaker 4: Perfect. So it's a big decision for you as well. 150 00:06:47,613 --> 00:06:49,733 Speaker 2: I'll be a lifty in at the nighttime and then 151 00:06:49,773 --> 00:06:51,213 Speaker 2: come in for the radio show in the afternoon. 152 00:06:51,213 --> 00:06:53,133 Speaker 4: Perfect. You'll be cleaning the toilets when you're not on here. 153 00:06:53,213 --> 00:06:54,013 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm not above that. 154 00:06:54,853 --> 00:06:57,493 Speaker 1: For more from News Talk sed B, listen live on 155 00:06:57,573 --> 00:07:00,533 Speaker 1: air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever 156 00:07:00,573 --> 00:07:03,173 Speaker 1: you go with our podcasts on IR Radio.