Rob and Janene made the move from the Coromandel to the South Island to continue their 8-year retirement, but it wasn’t long before they traded retirement for a new business venture that combined both of their passions.

After hosting their own lodge in Whitianga, Janene’s love for food and artistry, and Rob’s bar experience, discovering My Little Pub became the unexpected catalyst for their exciting new chapter.

It all began with a six-week South Island trip in early 2023. Before heading south, they put their Whitianga property on the market and mapped out a plan to explore potential locations from Rangiora down to Cromwell. Janene envisioned owning a place where she could host guests and channel her passion for food. And with great food, of course, you need beer and wine—so a bar became a must-have. She did her research.

An online search led Janene to My Little Pub. She showed it to Rob, who immediately reminisced about his time working at The Leicester Arms in Piccadilly Circus, London, back in 1985. With Janene’s English ancestry and Rob’s English-Dutch heritage, they both agreed that an English-style pub would be perfect.

Crossing the Cook Strait on April 13th, they arranged a meeting with Gary to view the original Little Pub, T. O’Loughlin’s. The next morning, on April 14th, they saw it in person and quickly realised they had to have one—now they just needed the perfect property to put it on.

That same afternoon they viewed the first of six properties on their list – Trott’s Garden in Ashburton. They hadn’t even seen the other properties, but decided there and then this was the right property with the beautiful Brantwood Chapel and internationally acclaimed gardens. What a property and perfect setting for a Little Pub they decided.

Before they sold their Whitianga property they began work on Trott’s Garden. The first two months saw a full renovation of the chapel exterior, upgrading The Brantwood Belvedere marquee and refreshing the gardens. It took another six months for their Whitianga house to sell, and their first phone call was to Gary, asking for the bank account number so they could pay their deposit on their Little Pub – The Brantwood Arms.

Rob and Janene had some great ideas they wanted to bring to life. Because it was to be a commercial pub, they decided to increase the size slightly, extending it from the standard 4.3m to 4.8m. They also wanted to serve guests outside the pub, so a hatch and servery bar window were added—a perfect addition for those sunny summer days.

They put their own unique touches on the exterior signage, including a 3D ‘The Brantwood Arms’ façade, and collaborated with Wigram Brewery to create one-of-a-kind statement signage. The aviation-themed design is a fitting tribute to their son, who is an officer in the RNZAF.

For the interior, they envisioned a fleur-de-lis theme, which was brought to life through anaglypta wallpaper, customised stained-glass windows, and bespoke cushions. This then matched in with the Brantwood Chapel leadlight windows. They also added personal memorabilia, such as the 'Rick's Corner' sign that Janene’s father had in his home bar before he sadly passed away. A few items from Rob’s Dutch heritage were also included, along with his old school cap.

The copper lights dividing the interior panels have a special history. They originally came from the family home Rob built 30 years ago. They were intended for interior doors, but Rob measured them 100mm too narrow and had to reorder new ones—an expensive mistake at the time. However, he always believed a day would come when they would find their place, and they suit the pub perfectly.

“What a great process. Simple procedures and great communication. Nothing too difficult and great ideas simply achieved.”

The Brantwood Arms is now one of New Zealand’s smallest commercial pubs. We highly recommend that anyone passing through Ashburton stop by Trott’s Garden to visit The Brantwood Arms and the beautiful, famous gardens. While you’re there, be sure to grab a bite from Janene’s expertly crafted English Pub ‘Little Nosh’ menu and let Rob serve you a refreshing cold beer or wine.

It’s been a delight bringing Rob & Janene’s dream to life and it’s so heartwarming to hear all of the visitors already enjoying the Little Pub. Cheers to Rob, Janene and The Brantwood Arms.