A flamboyant festival weekend to mark the Harbour View Hotel’s 120th anniversary saw classic cars stream into Raglan last Saturday while live music played in the iconic pub’s garden bar from noon though till midnight.
Visitors were welcomed to the colonial hotel by town crier Neil Tolan – sporting a tricorn hat and ringing a large, loud handbell at the main entrance – and inside, a wet plate portrait studio was set up to take historic photos of patrons.
Saturday night honoured the Harbour View’s colourful past with a dress-up decades party from 1905 to 2025. And Sunday saw a continuous line-up of live music outdoors, with memorabilia on display indoors.
It was an “epic” weekend, said publican Fiona Gates. “And there’s plenty more life in the old girl yet!”
