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The Historic Empire Hotel, Ross.
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Description The Historic Empire Hotel, Ross.Map[1] External LinkRoss GoldtownContributorPeter Creagh
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Location (city or town)Ross
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LinkFacebook LinkDate Created18th July 2014Comments
Jeffrey Peacock
longest game of pool i ever played was in that pub
Heather Newby
Author
Admin
Jeffrey Peacock ha ha.. how long did it last?
Maria Bickley
Jeffrey Peacock funny how these things stick in your mind...I still remember the pub in Perth (two actually) where I played my best pool ever..after drinking rum all arvo lol
Jenny Adamson
Best food and atmosphere great pub.
Kath Wood
Boy has it changed worked there about the 1960 Stan and Alma Johnson owned it then
Charles Penney
Killer Seafood chowder.....
Colin Sandra Moss
Charles Penney Love it best chowder.
Colin Harman
Had a few beers there after getting off the railcar from ChCh and waiting for the bus to Haast
John M Palmer
My Wifes father, Grand Father and Great Grand father all lived here. Evans Family
Jim Wilson
Great atmosphere!
May be an image of outdoors
Jeffrey Peacock
they still got the weee bell on a string hanging through the cieling
Koroheke Hemopo
Got kicked out of there while playing pool for Hokitika Pool Team ,,,,we were thrashing the locals ,,,, and we were singing ,,,, they didnt like it ,,,,, so went to the other pub n carried on ,,,,,
Sore losers
C
Alan Messenger
I once spent an afternoon drinking there after the Ross sports and knocked the verandah down while reversing my car. No such thing as DIC in those days
Sue Seymour
Is this the pub with the money all over the ceiling?
Salena Wilson
Sue Seymour yes , they regularly give it to Ross school.
Greg Mait
Sue Seymour It's the pub thats got everything that you would ever want in a pub.
Wayne Thornton
Remember this
Gabrelle Hart
Used To Go There With The Folks Every Whitebait Season and Stay With Aunty Ella Gray ..
Greg Mait
It's the pub we used to stop for a drink / drinks at after finishing work midday Saturday at the Ross sawmill One time some dude had their horse drinking at the bar.
Peter Robertson
Greg Mait Used to have a pet possum there in the old days.Drank a beer or two and then ran up the curtains. It was my wife's possum,when she was a little girl and someone wanted it,so they gave it away. She's still upset
Bevan Pringle
Great old pub least it in the 1991 had the kiwi experience buses come in every night put hugie down every day to feed them then had boat racing at midnight till late
Christine Stewart
Awesome pub with wonderful friendly staff and accommodation was lovely with beautifully clean rooms , stayed there last time I was home to visit my dad Jack Searle .
I will be back when able for sure
Dave Rosson
love this oub
Julia Bunting
Dave Rosson hickup
Mel Wright-Midgley
Second home as a child lol
Layla Ensor
Mel Wright-Midgley Me too lol and then a bit of my adulthood
David Keane
They did the best roast meals on a sunday
Shannen Demmocks
David Keane still do bro, all you can buffet
Alan Keate
Best Sunday night smorgasbord ever
Nina Townsend
Had the pleasure of staying there not long ago. The done up rooms are amazing & the staff were fantastic. I will definately b goin back
Vern Pattinson
Was in that pub 5 months ago
Brent Ian Richardson
What a lovely old pub.great hoasts. And food .old NZ so cool.carnt wait to go
Nick Coxon
Was there in feb this year
Lisa Ford
Had a awesome weekend here a few years back,had a great time and great food with Helen Topi
Paul Holm
Have had a few beers in there over the years... Great pub with a great history. Remember a Saturday night with the locals making up a band, hell of a lot of fun.
Ann Selander
I was brought up there for 15 years I could write a book trust me Ann Johnston
Viv Hitchcock
Ann Selander do it !
Kevie Moro
Had a beer there yesterday
Raylene Cathcart
Love the Sunday roast they do..
Neil Tozer
You were 2 doors away Layla
Layla Ensor
Neil Tozer Easy access
Neil Tozer
Layla Ensor it was they were great days
Lorraine Clement
I worked there, short lived, but yup kitchen and dining cleaning. Wow the young chef had a baby upstairs and hid that and her pregnancy… she gave birth and hid it.
Neil Tozer
Lorraine Clement in a draw I remember it well
Robbie Browne
Neil Tozer was it yours
Neil Tozer
No not that one Robbie
Ray Port
I remember going there once late 60s to see dad and the local cop and priest were both propped up at the bar having a beer.
The cop gave me a lecture about not catching us kids riding a go cart we had made out of lawn mower motor on the street again.
The priest went very quiet because only a few days earlier he had asked us for a go on it and took it for spin down main road..
·Greg Mait
Ray Port Thats exactly how life should be . I shudder to think what we've lost
Catherine Taylor
Best pub and grub can not beat Paulette and brownie
Trevor Taylor
great pub .. Do they still have jam night last friday of the month ?
Greg Mait
Trevor Taylor 4 sure . awesome nights . People come from Nelson and Christchurch
Roger Gardiner
Hellen Morris, Richard Gardiner,Karen Annette Gardiner I reckon that both of our fathers would have spent a few hours in this establishment when they were younger.
Richard Gardiner
Roger Gardiner and our grandfather and more than likely our great grandfather
Roger Gardiner
Agree with you Richard Gardiner
Neil Tozer
Mark and Paulette have been there coming up 35 years they brought up 3 children while running the pub they are an amazing couple and great friends of ours ,our kids grew up together
Mary Griffiths
A wonderful hotel so well run
Stephanie Wheeler
Used to be owned by my Aunty and uncle
Neil Tozer
It was was Nico and Ada did you know a girl named erlene and barber that work there about that time
Lorraine Clement
Neil Tozer god my correct spell didn’t work, yes nico Sorry! Not sure sorry, I knew Maneras, Jelly Thompson, Maui and Christine, the hermit in the haunted hospital… gosh then moved to kakapotai… erlene not sure it rings a bell
Neil Tozer
Did you work with those girls in the day
Lorraine Clement
Neil Tozer I think so, I can’t remember what the other name was either… there were 2 others. I lived across the rd at a guy bobs house
Neil Tozer
I married Erlene and we are still l there she was a part Maori girl whith long black hair she lived in one of the huts out the back
Lorraine Clement
Neil Tozer yup and she wore a big top to hide her pregnancy! Even gave birth alone and cut the cord herself. I stayed out the back in the huts but it was horrible.
Doris Blanchard
I stayed there with my husband and two of my children and their families about 18 years ago when we spent a couple of days in Ross where my father was born and brought up and my grandfather lived for all of his life. My husband has never forgotten the size of the huge steak which he was served in the restaurant. The meals were great and I have a lovely photo of the family standing on the balcony of the Empire Hotel. I hold a great memory of that time.
Margi Adamson
Lots of fun at that place
Ann Selander
You are so right I am Ann there daughter hard days
Jim Wilson
Tim Ferguson A short drive south of Hokitika on the beautiful West Coast of the South Island.
Tim Ferguson
Jim Wilson cheers. Thank you
Malcolm Mason
Have had some great times in there over the Years
Murray Gardiner
Loved our stay here Jan 2020 stopped for a night ended up with 2 nights
Travelling west coast from WA
Dianne Smith
My late Uncle Clem Higgins was a very good
Geoff Gillanders
Have you ever been forced to stay over.
Jenny Leach
Stayed at this pub when ann johnston parents owned it they used to have great sing along we would sit on the stairs and listen to them singing
John Flattery-donohoe
who could 4get this place ha ha so many memories ha ha
George Gardner - Where the biggest gold nugget ever found in NZ was used as a front door stop!
Jeanette Corkran - Used to work there when Nicko had it was busy place back then.
Wayne Thornton - Jeanette Corkran Lots of memories ay.
Les Mehrtens - Many times Geoff. Even raffled rabbits in the bar to pay for our jugs of beer. Great memories of the Coast.
Warren Thomson
In the 1940's the publican of the Empire Hotel by the name of Laurie Wicks (I think from memory) drove a Packhard car, 3 rows of seats, and always met the railcar from Christchurch and picked up any passengers. I think the rail car that left Christchurch approx 1am arrived about 8am into Ross and had the early edition of The Press on board. Publicans that followed included Standridge and Mardon - that if my memory is correct. There was also a pub where the grocery shop is in Moorhouse Street. Commercial Hotel. Tom Cummings was the publican at the end of world war 2 and his family then shifted to Coronation Street Christchurch (next door to my auntie at the time) and then moved to Beckenham Street. I think one his twin sons died earlier this year. Rob Parker had a pub opposite but further up the street from the Empire. Ran race picks on a Saturday. An uncle of mine lived there for a while, always used to be sitting on the front verandah enjoying the sun.
Rachael Sandrey
Reg Poultney
Tim Mora
Popped in for a meal after cycling the bike trail from Hokitika. Great meal, lovely atmosphere.
Phyllis Williams
I was too young to have a drink there when we lived in Ross but been back a couple of times when traveling back to enjoy the coast on holiday
Peter Creagh
Empire Hotel Ross HDR image. Not as good as the farm hut HDR due to there being no mixture of blue sky and cloud.
Peter Robertson
In-laws George and Ruby Stanbridge were here before they moved to Cobden in 1954.Is this landmark still open.Heard it had,or might be closing
Brenda Breeze
Still open, had a great meal up there a couple of weeks ago.
Marg Dobson
Brilliant pub - best seafood chowder ever
Robert Fay Lemon Griffin
Where is it?
Jo Pearce
Top Pub know it well ;)
Ron Boddy
Ross
Ron Boddy
a walk way up to the old Greenland mine then back to the top pub for a beer and a pie,..well.......that was a few years ago. :)
Phyllis Williams
Love the history this was my town when growing up got to have a drink in it when I came back for a visit in the 70s as I was too young when we lived in Ross. My friend Julie Lutton's father owned the City Hotel down the Road
Jo Pearce
That would be the "Bottom Pub" :)
Di Kavanagh
I lived next door. Our house use to fill up when the" flying squad" from Hoki would raid the pub. Think Stan Johnson was the first publican I can remember.
Ron Boddy
those were the days Di
Zody Ensor
I lived two doors down from the age of one til about 16
Ron Boddy
I lived with my Gran on the opposite corner of the City Hotel along time ago
Di Kavanagh
There has been a lot of changes to the pub over the years.
Philippa Deazley
my grandparents owned it for a few years alma and stanley johnston
Robbie Muir-bromley
my mum live there years ago with her mum and dad alma stanley
Robbie Muir-bromley
di stan i my grandad
Philippa Deazley
ha robbie he my grandad too! Love u cousin!
Di Kavanagh
That was a few blakberry seasons ago philippa & robin
Robbie Muir-bromley
yep di did you no my mum fay
Di Kavanagh
I was pretty young but have heard her name mentioned a bit when people start to chat about Ross
Irene Cook
awsome had many drinks in this pub.
Robbie Muir-bromley
next time i c you di we will have to have a chat about what the old days in ross
Philippa Deazley
dp u remember del at all di?? Shes my mum. I was in ross anzac day but pub wasnt open tho there were people in there wd have loved to have gone in
Jeffrey Peacock
longest game of pool i ever played was in that pub
Heather Newby
Author
Admin
Jeffrey Peacock ha ha.. how long did it last?
Maria Bickley
Jeffrey Peacock funny how these things stick in your mind...I still remember the pub in Perth (two actually) where I played my best pool ever..after drinking rum all arvo lol
Jenny Adamson
Best food and atmosphere great pub.
Kath Wood
Boy has it changed worked there about the 1960 Stan and Alma Johnson owned it then
Charles Penney
Killer Seafood chowder.....
Colin Sandra Moss
Charles Penney Love it best chowder.
Colin Harman
Had a few beers there after getting off the railcar from ChCh and waiting for the bus to Haast
John M Palmer
My Wifes father, Grand Father and Great Grand father all lived here. Evans Family
Jim Wilson
Great atmosphere!
May be an image of outdoors
Jeffrey Peacock
they still got the weee bell on a string hanging through the cieling
Koroheke Hemopo
Got kicked out of there while playing pool for Hokitika Pool Team ,,,,we were thrashing the locals ,,,, and we were singing ,,,, they didnt like it ,,,,, so went to the other pub n carried on ,,,,,
Sore losers
C
Alan Messenger
I once spent an afternoon drinking there after the Ross sports and knocked the verandah down while reversing my car. No such thing as DIC in those days
Sue Seymour
Is this the pub with the money all over the ceiling?
Salena Wilson
Sue Seymour yes , they regularly give it to Ross school.
Greg Mait
Sue Seymour It's the pub thats got everything that you would ever want in a pub.
Wayne Thornton
Remember this
Gabrelle Hart
Used To Go There With The Folks Every Whitebait Season and Stay With Aunty Ella Gray ..
Greg Mait
It's the pub we used to stop for a drink / drinks at after finishing work midday Saturday at the Ross sawmill One time some dude had their horse drinking at the bar.
Peter Robertson
Greg Mait Used to have a pet possum there in the old days.Drank a beer or two and then ran up the curtains. It was my wife's possum,when she was a little girl and someone wanted it,so they gave it away. She's still upset
Bevan Pringle
Great old pub least it in the 1991 had the kiwi experience buses come in every night put hugie down every day to feed them then had boat racing at midnight till late
Christine Stewart
Awesome pub with wonderful friendly staff and accommodation was lovely with beautifully clean rooms , stayed there last time I was home to visit my dad Jack Searle .
I will be back when able for sure
Dave Rosson
love this oub
Julia Bunting
Dave Rosson hickup
Mel Wright-Midgley
Second home as a child lol
Layla Ensor
Mel Wright-Midgley Me too lol and then a bit of my adulthood
David Keane
They did the best roast meals on a sunday
Shannen Demmocks
David Keane still do bro, all you can buffet
Alan Keate
Best Sunday night smorgasbord ever
Nina Townsend
Had the pleasure of staying there not long ago. The done up rooms are amazing & the staff were fantastic. I will definately b goin back
Vern Pattinson
Was in that pub 5 months ago
Brent Ian Richardson
What a lovely old pub.great hoasts. And food .old NZ so cool.carnt wait to go
Nick Coxon
Was there in feb this year
Lisa Ford
Had a awesome weekend here a few years back,had a great time and great food with Helen Topi
Paul Holm
Have had a few beers in there over the years... Great pub with a great history. Remember a Saturday night with the locals making up a band, hell of a lot of fun.
Ann Selander
I was brought up there for 15 years I could write a book trust me Ann Johnston
Viv Hitchcock
Ann Selander do it !
Kevie Moro
Had a beer there yesterday
Raylene Cathcart
Love the Sunday roast they do..
Neil Tozer
You were 2 doors away Layla
Layla Ensor
Neil Tozer Easy access
Neil Tozer
Layla Ensor it was they were great days
Lorraine Clement
I worked there, short lived, but yup kitchen and dining cleaning. Wow the young chef had a baby upstairs and hid that and her pregnancy… she gave birth and hid it.
Neil Tozer
Lorraine Clement in a draw I remember it well
Robbie Browne
Neil Tozer was it yours
Neil Tozer
No not that one Robbie
Ray Port
I remember going there once late 60s to see dad and the local cop and priest were both propped up at the bar having a beer.
The cop gave me a lecture about not catching us kids riding a go cart we had made out of lawn mower motor on the street again.
The priest went very quiet because only a few days earlier he had asked us for a go on it and took it for spin down main road..
·Greg Mait
Ray Port Thats exactly how life should be . I shudder to think what we've lost
Catherine Taylor
Best pub and grub can not beat Paulette and brownie
Trevor Taylor
great pub .. Do they still have jam night last friday of the month ?
Greg Mait
Trevor Taylor 4 sure . awesome nights . People come from Nelson and Christchurch
Roger Gardiner
Hellen Morris, Richard Gardiner,Karen Annette Gardiner I reckon that both of our fathers would have spent a few hours in this establishment when they were younger.
Richard Gardiner
Roger Gardiner and our grandfather and more than likely our great grandfather
Roger Gardiner
Agree with you Richard Gardiner
Neil Tozer
Mark and Paulette have been there coming up 35 years they brought up 3 children while running the pub they are an amazing couple and great friends of ours ,our kids grew up together
Mary Griffiths
A wonderful hotel so well run
Stephanie Wheeler
Used to be owned by my Aunty and uncle
Neil Tozer
It was was Nico and Ada did you know a girl named erlene and barber that work there about that time
Lorraine Clement
Neil Tozer god my correct spell didn’t work, yes nico Sorry! Not sure sorry, I knew Maneras, Jelly Thompson, Maui and Christine, the hermit in the haunted hospital… gosh then moved to kakapotai… erlene not sure it rings a bell
Neil Tozer
Did you work with those girls in the day
Lorraine Clement
Neil Tozer I think so, I can’t remember what the other name was either… there were 2 others. I lived across the rd at a guy bobs house
Neil Tozer
I married Erlene and we are still l there she was a part Maori girl whith long black hair she lived in one of the huts out the back
Lorraine Clement
Neil Tozer yup and she wore a big top to hide her pregnancy! Even gave birth alone and cut the cord herself. I stayed out the back in the huts but it was horrible.
Doris Blanchard
I stayed there with my husband and two of my children and their families about 18 years ago when we spent a couple of days in Ross where my father was born and brought up and my grandfather lived for all of his life. My husband has never forgotten the size of the huge steak which he was served in the restaurant. The meals were great and I have a lovely photo of the family standing on the balcony of the Empire Hotel. I hold a great memory of that time.
Margi Adamson
Lots of fun at that place
Ann Selander
You are so right I am Ann there daughter hard days
Jim Wilson
Tim Ferguson A short drive south of Hokitika on the beautiful West Coast of the South Island.
Tim Ferguson
Jim Wilson cheers. Thank you
Malcolm Mason
Have had some great times in there over the Years
Murray Gardiner
Loved our stay here Jan 2020 stopped for a night ended up with 2 nights
Travelling west coast from WA
Dianne Smith
My late Uncle Clem Higgins was a very good
Geoff Gillanders
Have you ever been forced to stay over.
Jenny Leach
Stayed at this pub when ann johnston parents owned it they used to have great sing along we would sit on the stairs and listen to them singing
John Flattery-donohoe
who could 4get this place ha ha so many memories ha ha
George Gardner - Where the biggest gold nugget ever found in NZ was used as a front door stop!
Jeanette Corkran - Used to work there when Nicko had it was busy place back then.
Wayne Thornton - Jeanette Corkran Lots of memories ay.
Les Mehrtens - Many times Geoff. Even raffled rabbits in the bar to pay for our jugs of beer. Great memories of the Coast.
Warren Thomson
In the 1940's the publican of the Empire Hotel by the name of Laurie Wicks (I think from memory) drove a Packhard car, 3 rows of seats, and always met the railcar from Christchurch and picked up any passengers. I think the rail car that left Christchurch approx 1am arrived about 8am into Ross and had the early edition of The Press on board. Publicans that followed included Standridge and Mardon - that if my memory is correct. There was also a pub where the grocery shop is in Moorhouse Street. Commercial Hotel. Tom Cummings was the publican at the end of world war 2 and his family then shifted to Coronation Street Christchurch (next door to my auntie at the time) and then moved to Beckenham Street. I think one his twin sons died earlier this year. Rob Parker had a pub opposite but further up the street from the Empire. Ran race picks on a Saturday. An uncle of mine lived there for a while, always used to be sitting on the front verandah enjoying the sun.
Rachael Sandrey
Reg Poultney
Tim Mora
Popped in for a meal after cycling the bike trail from Hokitika. Great meal, lovely atmosphere.
Phyllis Williams
I was too young to have a drink there when we lived in Ross but been back a couple of times when traveling back to enjoy the coast on holiday
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West Coast New Zealand History (11th Sep 2021). The Historic Empire Hotel, Ross.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 2nd Apr 2026 07:05, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/8712