The Devonport Flagstaff Page 7
February 5 2015 From page 1
John McHugh’s contribution will be missed
Community Board from 2001. McHugh (57) died in hospital last Friday. On 23 January he had suffered a massive heart attack while driving on Lake Rd. It was only in 2013 that McHugh’s of Cheltenham celebrated 100 years on its beachfront site. McHugh had run the business for 34 years and turned it from a beach cafe into a fully equipped restaurant, spending $1 million upgrading it over the decades. It was the scene of thousands of community events and celebrations. McHugh himself was a major benefactor to the Devonport community sponsoring a multitude of groups and events over the years. His partner of 25 years, Jonathan Raos, said: “John was a private person – he loved being at home at Hampton Beach House (on Devonport’s waterfront) and doing simple things like going out for a walk and having something to eat at Platter.” McHugh was surrounded by family in hospital and “died with dignity,” said Jonathan. McHugh’s death was a second shock for his family. His father died several weeks earlier. • A service will be held at the Wilson Home Gardens on February 6 at 11am.
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DEVONPORT has - Lifestyle - Village atmosphere - Old houses, high rates - Expensive living With the benefits of living here come the costs.
McHugh’s of Cheltenham, for which John McHugh became locally, nationally and internationally known In a 2013 booklet marking 100 years of an have supportive parents, Patrick and Kathleen eatery on Cheltenham Beach, John McHugh McHugh, who were able to invest with me in wrote of his history with the site: our new venture. “Growing up, I was privileged to spend “My mother, armed with all her fantastic dessummer holidays at a family friend’s house at sert recipes, became totally involved in the daythe end of Arawa Ave on Cheltenham Beach. to-day running of our kitchen, Pat concentrated We often bought ice cream at the kiosk on our on business advice, and the extended family way to explore the rock pools or North Head. became staff. In our first year, we introduced “Fast forward to 1981... Having completed a daily buffet lunch while working hard on the my hospitality course at ATI, and with two private function market, most of which were years’ experience with the Lion Breweries hotel wedding receptions. Our buffet lunch was a management team, I was ready to take on the great success, particularly with the fledgling world in my own business. tourist market where we were able to offer a “After appearing before several Devonport truly New Zealand experience with the iconic Borough Council meetings, I was successful in seaside location. obtaining the lease on the Cheltenham Recep“In 1989, I successfully retained the lease tion Lounge. Because the council had no sched- and embarked on a total refurbishment of the ule of any fixtures or fittings, it was stripped bare building. With a brand-new kitchen design, we of everything by the previous tenant, including were able to attract highly qualified, competent all the internal doors. That made for an interest- chefs to take us to another level of catering, ing start but did provide an opportunity to stamp particularly in the important wedding market. my mark early on. I was able to refurbish with The refurbished building was an immediate the latest trends of the time. I decided to give success and reconfirmed McHugh’s as a market the kiosk its fourth name change and called it leader in Auckland. McHugh’s has hosted a McHugh’s of Cheltenham. It was important to huge number of wedding functions, corporate me to brand my new business as I intended to events and milestone celebrations over more be in catering for a long time. I was fortunate to than 30 years.”
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