Our Story

EARLY HISTORY: John Southgate has been referred to as one of the fathers of Warkworth. A contemporary of John Anderson Brown, Southgate settled in Warkworth in I848.

Southgate was one of the first people to recognize the potential of limestone, later establishing a small hotel on the site of his early kilns. In I862 he sold this site to Nathaniel Wilson and moved his hotel business to the centre of Warkworth, building the Warkworth Hotel with adjoining horse stables. The Norfolk pine tree he planted in front of the hotel was in tribute to his son and continues to be a prominent feature in the town. The hotel and the norfolk pine are now over I50 years old.

TODAY: Warkworth Hotel has been lovingly restored to house an exciting new bar and restaurant. 

The decor is reminiscent of the hotel in its glory days, with chesterfield sofas and tiffany lamp shades taking you back in time. The Hotel is split into two sections, the Lobby, for drinks and carefully crafted sharing plates, and the Dining Room, open Thursday - Sunday for a slightly more formal dining experience presenting its own contemporary multi course menu. 

This project has been undertaken by Woody and Kim, owners of The Stables and Smiths restaurants in Matakana, however the Warkworth Hotel is a completely different experience which they promise to excite. 

The Warkworth Hotel is a classy little piece of town history that will be affordable and casual enough for anyone to enjoy, whether you're looking for an after work beer or a three course meal. 

As well as the beautifully kitted out Lobby and Dining Room, The Warkworth Hotel has an incredible space upstairs, perfect for hosting a function or wedding reception. 

After a year and a half of research, design and renovation, Warkworth Hotel reopened its doors Monday I9th October 2020.