The Artist’s In

Sarah and Frank weren't planning on buying a pub. On the lookout for a bigger space than what they had in Frank's existing West Melton pottery studio and gallery due to increasing interest in his work and pottery lessons, in 2020 they stumbled across a listing for the Hororata Hotel. It had been damaged in the 2010 earthquake and hadn't operated as a hotel since. It was considerably larger than what they had in mind, and in poor condition – uninsured and in need of a complete overhaul, inside and out. ‘We thought we would be nosey,’ Sarah says, ‘and then Frank decided we could take it on and do the reno entirely by ourselves. I had no clue; it’s not at all like HGTV leads you to believe!’

The renovation is well underway, with gallery and teaching spaces open. The work of over fifty Selwyn-based artists is exhibited and there's a regular Monday night pottery class that's been going since they started in West Melton, with participants making their own projects with Frank's assistance. Frank also runs hand-building classes two nights a week. The classes attract a wide range of creatives, from teenagers to septuagenarians.

Sarah and Frank continue their work on the hotel building, transforming it into a warm home and restoring some of its original twentieth-century features, while watching the garden grow, making more pottery and enjoying each other's company. ‘We will stay here until we can no longer climb the stairs!’ Sarah laughs.