WK director Craig Forsyth says Liz and Bradley had a very clear business plan of what they wanted to achieve from the start, and after supporting them with the business start up phase including the setup and support of the cloud based Xero accounting software, the pair have wasted no time in making Arbour an essential Marlborough destination.
Their passion, professionalism and dedication to achieving their goals is evident in everything they do, says Craig.
“They are awesome to deal with, they are so focussed on providing a quality hospitality experience, plus they are hugely generous with their time and giving back to the community. Arbour is a huge asset to Marlborough.”
The hardworking duo’s passion and drive hasn’t been unfounded, with Arbour picking up the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce Supreme Business Award and Service Award, as well as the Wild Tomato Best Marlborough Restaurant Award in its first 12 months.
Between them, Liz and Bradley have decades of experience working in kitchens and running restaurants around the world, but feel lucky to live in Marlborough.
Their unique community-led approach – helping to raise funds for deserving local charities and working closely with local growers and food producers – ensures they spread the net wide, while supporting grassroots organisations.
Arbour hosts four in-house charity events a year that raise over $50,000 for charities that focus on community basic needs. The team also volunteers for big regional events. In July, for example, Arbour designed and executed the food concept for 200 guests at an event organised by Hospice Marlborough committee which raised over $200,000 for the local charity.
In September they hosted The Gumboot Epicurean, a culinary foraging expedition, educating people about the wonderful work of local growers and food producers.
“We’re a small town of only 30,000 people and only a handful can afford to visit us regularly,” Liz says. “We could easily become quite separate from the community, but it was important to us to connect with the wider community, and our charity series and vision to represent Marlborough food producers large and small enables us to do that.”
Craig has provided the duo with a level headed approach, supporting their vision while ensuring their unique business model remains sustainable, she says.
“He really understands us and supports us to achieve our goals, and while he’s great at putting up with all our charity events, he doesn’t mind putting us on the spot and asking us the tough questions too.”
With the first 12 months of business under their belt and foundations of a sustainable long-term business in place, WK look forward to working closely with Liz and Bradley in achieving their future objectives and goals.