Warner's Hotel

Warner's Hotel
Warner's Hotel in December 2010 with the Novotel completed
Map
General information
TypeHotel
Architectural styleVictorian Free Classical
LocationCathedral Square, Christchurch Central City
Address50 Cathedral Square
Town or cityChristchurch
CountryNew Zealand
Coordinates43°31′50″S 172°38′15″E / 43.5305°S 172.6375°E / -43.5305; 172.6375
Current tenantsNovotel
Completed29 October 1901
Renovated1910 (fourth storey added)
ClientPercy Arthur Herman
OwnerChrystal Imports
LandlordGordon Chamberlain
Technical details
Floor countfour
Design and construction
Architect(s)Joseph Madison
Renovating team
Architect(s)Sidney and Alfred Luttrell
Designated24 April 1997
Reference no.7384
References
"Warner's Hotel". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 8 April 2011.

Warner's Hotel in 50 Cathedral Square, Christchurch is the site of a hotel established in 1863. The original building, extended on numerous occasions, burned down in 1900. A new building was built in 1901. Again, it underwent numerous alterations. A fourth storey was added in 1910 and the northern end of the building was demolished in 1917 and a theatre built in its place to create a noise buffer to the printing presses of the adjoining Lyttelton Times Building. The theatre was demolished in 1996 and patrons enjoyed a beer garden. In 2010, a high-rise Novotel hotel opened on the site of the beer garden and in the process, the historical and symmetrical 1901 façade was recreated.

Warner's Hotel was recognised as a Category II heritage building by Heritage New Zealand, with registration number 7384. Subsequent to the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the historic part of the building was demolished in late 2011. The owner has consent for rebuilding the hotel, but has cited uncertainty over other large projects nearby for the reason of not going ahead yet.