The Naked Possum changes hands
Jules Robinson (left) and Hannah Jeans, new owners of The Naked Possum cafe.
Hannah Jeans and Jules Robinson are the new faces running the Naked Possum at Kaituna, having taken over from Jocelyn Rae in early October.
The new owners couldn’t be more local. Hannah runs the Sleepy Possum B&B right next door, and Jules was on a farm just up the road. They say the business presented itself as both a wonderful opportunity and a challenge that they were separately ready for.
“The established bush café ambience of the place is the outdoor dining atmosphere with an open fire and wood smoke, but we’d also like to add more indoor dining space as time goes on,” says Hannah. “We’ve already added a new indoor bar.”
More than a few local businesses have already booked their Christmas parties there, and the clientele so far this season has ranged from businessmen in suits to weary trampers and families, and even a Playcentre group that came to make use of the park-like setting.
The Naked Possum cuisine has always been themed around wild game. The kitchen currently produces venison burgers, pies and open sandwiches, goat curries and wild pork pies. The new owners are also making their own impression on the menu: Friday steak nights are now on offer, along with a hearty “farmer’s brunch” available from 10am to noon on weekends.
The new owners have negotiated a new working agreement with the Dave Whittaker Trust. The rata and native nursery at the café will also continue as normal, with plants for sale. The tannery is temporarily in recess while the Rata Room (previously for functions, dining and gallery) will soon accommodate the combined works of Brian and Karen Cooper. They usually exhibit their respective chunky, funky furniture and photographic artworks at their Weka Arts studio just down the road, but this season their new gallery will be at the Naked Possum.
Jules says the Naked Possum has always been about bringing together many different people.
“You really get to see that when everybody mingles all friendly around the fire. That’s the atmosphere we want to build on to make this place even better.”
The Naked Possum is open 10am-4pm Sunday to Thursday and from 10am–10pm Saturday and Sunday.
Gerard Hindmarsh
