On the heels of relaunching Maddison’s Restaurant and Bar in Christchurch’s CBD, Canterbury-based event caterer and venue manager Continental has been announced as a preferred caterer for the Great Hall at the Arts Centre.
The Gothic Revival-style Great Hall was designed in 1882 and reopened on 1 June. The Hall’s full-wall stained glass window has been completely reinstated as part of the Arts Centre’s $290 million restorations, and seismic strengthening project and nearly half of the total precinct is expected to be open by the end of this year.
Continental, which has been serving at the Great Hall for more than a decade before its 2011 closure, was honoured to be the caterers for the first two official high-profile events at the new Hall; the Canterbury Heritage Awards held on 9 June and Christchurch Symphony Orchestra’s annual gala dinner on 11 June.
“Our whole team is very excited about being back at the Great Hall, and (soon) Mona Vale Homestead. While they are venues of unique characteristics and atmosphere, so undoubtedly excellent additional options to offer event planners, these particular venues – plus the Art Gallery – coming on-line again represent a significant step in Christchurch’s rebirth story,” Greg Ward, managing director of Continental said.
Christchurch Art Gallery has appointed Continental as a preferred caterer to its range of venue spaces which include the grand NZI foyer, state-of-the-art auditorium and private exhibition viewings. The Gallery’s event spaces are contemporary and sleek.
Not far away, Mona Vale Homestead on the banks of the River Avon in Fendalton will also once again open its doors for weddings, dinners and special occasions.
The 1897 Homestead was passed into public ownership in the 1960s. Continental has held the lease and operated the house as a public venue since the 1970s and was awarded the lease again by Christchurch City Council last year.
Continental is also the venue manager of Newbery Lodge Function Centre in Opawa and is the exclusive caterer for the Christchurch Tram dining car and Christchurch Gondola event centre.
Continental is a family owned and operated business which was established in 1965. It operates two main divisions, Event Catering and Event Equipment Hire, as well as actively managing venues and two food outlets, The Bakery in Rangiora and Kingsford Kitchen, Southbrook, and a separate 100 percent gluten-free production kitchen that produces the Allergy Free Foods (ALFF) range of goods.
