Art Deco Masonic Hotel

The Art Deco Masonic Hotel stands on the corner of Tennyson Street and Marine Parade in central Napier. It faces the Pacific Ocean and sits opposite MTG Hawke's Bay, within Napier's Art Deco precinct. Hawke's Bay Airport is about 15 minutes' drive away. The hotel suits small corporate groups, incentive programmes and private celebrations where the building's history and setting are part of the appeal.

History

A Masonic Hotel has operated on this site since 14 September 1861. The hotel was destroyed by fire in 1896, rebuilt in 1897, and then destroyed again in the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake, mainly by the fire that followed. The current building was designed by Wellington architect W. J. Prowse and completed in 1932. Its symmetrical form, upper-storey timber pergola facing the sea, and red leadlight 'MASONIC' lettering on the entrance canopy remain much as they were when it was built.

A major interior refurbishment in 2012 created a wider range of room types. According to the hotel, this work won Best New/Redeveloped Accommodation Hotel at the 2014 Hospitality New Zealand Awards for Excellence. The following year the hotel was named Supreme Champion and Best Accommodation at the same awards. It currently displays a Qualmark 4-Star Silver rating.

Rooms

The hotel has 43 individually styled rooms and suites, including a self-contained two-bedroom Art Deco apartment. Named suites include the Royal, Mark Twain, Anna Pavlova and Jean Batten suites, alongside Art Deco studios and superior king, queen and single rooms. Many rooms, as well as a guest balcony, look out over the Pacific.

Dining

The building houses K Kitchen & Bar (European fusion), Origami Restaurant & Patisserie (Japanese-inspired dishes and patisserie), and The Rose Irish Pub, which serves hearty food and local wines and runs regular events.

Meetings and events

The hotel describes itself as a small-event venue. Meetings can be set up boardroom-style for up to 20 people, and standing functions can hold up to 60 guests. Past hosts include corporate groups running product relaunches with food and wine matching.

Suitability

The Art Deco Masonic Hotel is a good fit for executive retreats, board meetings, cocktail functions and incentive stays for small groups, particularly those timed around Napier's Art Deco events or Hawke's Bay wine and food experiences.