Ratanui lodge offers “that little bit extra”
Pete Willocks and Steve Wakeman, owners of the new Ratanui Lodge in Pohara. “We want locals to be regulars too.” Photo: Marg Braggins.
Steve Wakeman and Pete Willocks are passionate about quality. The pair are the proprietors of Ratanui, the luxury lodge at Pohara that opened last week.
“We want to offer an excellent experience to our guests, both tourists and people from the Bay,” says Steve. “We offer service, accommodation and food of the highest quality possible.”
Steve and Pete have worked in a wide range of hospitality industry settings worldwide and they say they have learned what it takes to make people happy.
“We’ve designed Ratanui to include all of the details we’ve learned through our experience in other places,” says Steve. “Everything from the décor to the linen cocktail napkins has been designed to appeal to people who are looking for that little bit extra. If our guests go away happy and then come back again and again, we’ll know we’re getting it right. We’ve had lots of positive feedback already.”
Ratanui Lodge has a pool, an outdoor entertaining area, a lounge, a dining room and a breakfast room, and 10 luxuriously appointed rooms, each one decorated in an individual style.
“We’ll be offering a set menu that changes nightly,” says Pete. “We’re set up to cater for our staying guests, and casual diners are welcome too. We can do special occasion dinners for up to 34 and we’re happy for people just to drop in for a drink. Plenty of locals have come by to wish us well. It’s been great.”
Neil Wilson
