The Matterhorn - a Wellington institution and New Zealand’s most awarded bar - has been sold to the Auckland based Pack Investment Group.

Cuba Street Mall’s award-winning Matterhorn bar and restaurant opened in 1963, and for the last 13 years has been under the control of Christian McCabe, Sam Chapman, Leon Surynt and Adan Tijerina. Under their tenure the venue has won numerous awards including the supreme award for Restaurant of the Year in the 2008 Cuisine awards as well as taking out Bar of the Year in New Zealand Bartender magazine’s Bar Awards in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

McCabe told stuff.co.nz that he had taken the bar as far as it could go.

“I’ve been there 13 years, so it’s a major lifestyle change – it’s kind of the end of an era.”

Culturally The Matterhorn has played a major role in Wellington over the last decade including kick starting successful kiwi band Fat Freddy’s Drop, wining and dining politicians and celebrities (all those hobbits and elves during the filming of The Lord of the Rings) , and of course giving rise to some of New Zealand’s top bartenders (think Jacob Briars - the 42 Below Vodka professor).

McCabe understands that some patrons might be disappointed to see the bar sold to an Auckland corporation.

“But unless they expect us to die with plates in our hands, things have to change eventually.”

The Pack Investment Group have assured that nothing will change.

Read the full article here.