Mr Illingsworth
What makes your venue the Best Gastropub in New Zealand?
Just like the first general store that Mr Illingsworth established in Te Atatu, we are all about community and connection to our locals. We strive to be at the heart of community life as a hub to eat, drink and celebrate. Mr Illingsworth supports community initiatives along with youngsters' sports teams. The team at Mr Illingsworth work hard to deliver a customer experience that treats all of our patrons like a familiar friend.
Describe the experience your customers have at your establishment – what is your food and beverage offering and why do people come back for more?
Our team have a strong service ethos based on care and quality. Mr Illingsworth constantly engages with their customers to offer an ever-changing rotation of craft beer & cocktails, familiar favourites and a menu that the kitchen team are genuinely proud of. This is all backed up by a tight knit & experienced team that deliver great service from start to finish.
Tell us how you showcase NZ produce / offerings? Does your menu change with the season and how is it locally influenced. How do you accommodate allergy and dietary requirements?
Where possible, we try to source all of our produce locally and recognize its provenance. Our fish is sourced, processed and delivered by a local fishery daily. One of our locals works directly with the fishery to ensure that we receive the best quality product on offer.
What are your key points of difference and how have you managed to deliver them?
In addition to our great customer experience, Mr lllingsworth is big on events and offering that little bit extra. Throughout the year we partner with our suppliers to create events such as whiskey and gin nights, craft beer takeovers all matched with a bespoke menu. Mr Illingsworth has an off-licence that allows our customers to take some of that experience home with them. Unique to these events, our suppliers also offer special bottlings that are not for sale elsewhere.
Best Known for:
ever-changing rotation of craft beer and cocktails
Events such as whiskey and gin nights
Please describe your commitment to sustainability.
Our entire organisation is undertaking a sustainability initiative. At venue level, all of our cleaning products are eco-friendly to limit their impact to the environment and the team. The entire building separates their waste with much of it being sent to a local facility for further separation and processing. All cooking oil is recycled and converted into biofuel. Further initiatives will include food scrap collection and composting.
Please describe how you create ambience.
A true suburban local, Mr Illingsworth has quickly become a hub for the whole community due to its ability to seamlessly adjust to all manner of occasion. From long lunches, after work catch ups, exciting events or the big game, the venue absorbs it all and puts on a great show. Professional and passionate staff are astute to the subtle changes necessary as the hours go by and demographics change, evening replaces daylight, etc. always making sure the ambience is just right for all to enjoy.
