Hotels & Taverns in Hawkes Bay

24th July 2007
I ahven't been to the Clive for years, it has changed alot. I was a bit concerned about taking the wife and kids in, but the place is totally renovated, clean and tidy. staff said hello, which was a first for me walking into a sports bar, gas fire was on, beer was cold, TAB for me and pokies for the wife and the kids played pool, I was only popping in for a quick look but stayed for a couple of hours and had something to eat from the bar menu. The place is not like it was in the old days, thank godness!

11th June 2011
The Tavern used to be great, vibrant food and good company. The manager cut down the takeaways to 6 items or so. While the beer is fresh, the attitude of the owners is not good; they have managed to alienate most if not all of their clientele through lack of respect of their locals. The manager is often abusive to customers and frequently tells people he does not like to F off. The manageress is away for weeks at a time working as a cook for oil companies, so the restaurant side of the tavern is sadly neglected for weeks at a time: when she is back is is frequently drunk behind the bar with reports of very embarrassing behaviours. Recently more locals have been banned and are now drinking at the friendly alternative tavern a few kilometres or so up the road. The pub used to run the Marumaru pig hunting competition, but this is now taken over by "locals" who desire to put the money of the event back into the community: in fact the venue is at the Marumaru hall. The interesting fact is that now members of the committee have been banned from the Marumaru Tavern, they now drink at the more friendly family tavern beneath Mount Whakapunake. No one I know will drink at the Marumaru Tavern while the current publican is there. This is sad for a pub that used to have up to 200 people enjoying themselves there at one time: the owners need to leave. If the place had new owners it could once again be the great pub it was.