Rutherford Hotel facts for kids
The Rutherford Hotel is a big and fancy hotel in Nelson, New Zealand. It's named after a famous scientist, Sir Ernest Rutherford. This hotel is the tallest building in Nelson and the largest hotel there. It's part of a group called Heritage Hotels, which has hotels all over New Zealand.
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History of the Rutherford Hotel
A hotel called the Central Hotel used to be on this spot. It had been there since 1842. In December 1972, the old hotel closed. A brand new hotel, the DB Rutherford Hotel, opened on the same spot on December 18, 1972. The Prime Minister at the time, Norman Kirk, officially opened it. The hotel was named after Ernest Rutherford, who was born nearby in Brightwater.
The land where the hotel stands used to be home to Nelson Breweries. This company was bought by DB Breweries in 1969. That's how the land became available for the new hotel.
When the hotel first opened, some people were confused by the name "DB Rutherford." Some of Rutherford's family even wanted his name removed. Later, when a group called Quality Inn bought the hotel, they changed its name. But many staff and local people wanted the Rutherford name back. Because of this public support, the hotel was renamed Rutherford during a big renovation.
In 2012, work began on a larger meeting and event space. This new area can hold many people for banquets or shows. For example, the New Zealand National Party held its big meeting there in August 2013.
Where is the Hotel Located?
The hotel is located near the meeting point of Trafalgar Square and Nile Street West. Its main entrance faces Trafalgar Square. The hotel stands on the west side of Trafalgar Square, which has gardens around the Nelson Cathedral. The Cathedral's bell tower is very close to the hotel. You can even see it from some of the hotel rooms.
Outside the Hotel
The Rutherford Hotel is 10 floors tall and about 40 meters high. This makes it the tallest building in Nelson. You can see it from many parts of the city. It's easy to spot because of the large sign with a golden, curly 'R' on top. The building itself is a light brown or "bisque" color. Next to the hotel's main entrance, there is a shop for Hogland Glass. The hotel also has an outdoor swimming pool. The Rutherford Hotel is in the main shopping and business area of Nelson.
Inside the Hotel
When you walk into the hotel lobby, you'll see the main front desk to your left. There's also a grand staircase that leads up to the mezzanine floor and then to the other levels. Elevators are available to take you from the ground floor all the way to the top.
In the lobby, there's a big wishing fountain. Sometimes, you might even see a classic car parked there! These cars come from the nearby World of Wearable Art & Classic Cars museum.
The hotel has 9 floors and 113 rooms. Besides the outdoor pool, there's also a gym for guests. You have several choices for food and drinks at the hotel:
- Oceano, a seafood restaurant.
- Miyazu, a Japanese restaurant on the mezzanine floor.
- The Atom Cafe.
- The Port 'o' Call bar, which has a fun nautical theme.
See also
In Spanish: Hotel Rutherford para niños
