Rutherford Hotel is set to undergo a refresh after being acquired by Hunt Hospitality.
Stephen Hunt is a third generation publican who, along with his family, has been a part of the hospitality industry since the 1940s and is Managing Director of Hunt Hospitality.
Stephen has a strong history of owning and operating successful pubs in the Newcastle and the Hunter. Always looking for good hospitality businesses to add to his portfolio Stephen purchased the Rutherford Hotel stating that is has a good mix of trade, good staff, with a great community feel in a location with a vastly growing population.
“The Rutherford Hotel will be under going a refurbishment with all parts of the business receiving some kind of upgrade, the focus will remain on making sure that the good service and value for money offering will remain the same,” Stephen said. “Incorporated into this will be a rebranding, new menu, and some quality entertainment offerings.”
“First built in 1851, Rutherford Hotel has been a landmark location in the Maitland area for many years and our upgrades will pay homage to this. If only the walls could talk there would be many interesting yards told!”
Stage 1 of the refurbishment will begin in late April and be completed in late June 2016.
Stephen also currently manages The Kent Hotel in Hamilton and the Rutherford Hotel in Rutherford, allowing him to generate a positive track record in maximising a venue’s potential – something that is evident in transformations he’s achieved in the past. In 2014, renovations to The Kent Hotel and CBD Hotel enabled the venues to reach their full potential, while also leading to nine nominations in the 2014 AHA NSW Awards For Excellence.
More recently, Hunt Hospitality was nominated for three categories in the prestigious 2015 Hunter Business Awards, including Excellence in Customer Service, Excellence in Business, and Stephen personally for Business Leader of the Year.
Having completed his master’s degree in 2013, as well as an executive education course at Harvard in 2014, Stephen is also a firm believer in continuous personal development. When he’s not working on his thriving businesses or seeking out new ventures, you’ll probably find him training for his next run or ocean swim.
Image | Stephen Hunt
