Originally The Vic Rose was founded in the mid 90s and quickly became Nelson's premium watering hole. Then, in the early 00s, it was transformed into The Vic Mac's Brewbar and ownership was taken over by yours truly, The Williams family in 2010.
Now in our 10th year of ownership, The Vic Public House has had a facelift and the people behind it are still going strong. We are a family business through and through and collectively have over 50 years of experience in the hospitality industry.
For us, that's what it's all about - hospitality - and going back to the root of that concept of creating an environment where people from all walks of life are welcome, making your house a home for anyone who enters it and regenerating that person for whatever they're off to next.
Originally from the UK, hospitality is in our blood. Our Grandfather owned a café in the midlands of England back in the mid 20th century. Ian (Dad), began his career in a kitchen in London in the 70s before meeting Sally. They married and had four children. Phil, the eldest began pouring pints in our hometown of Thornbury, Bristol, before going on to manage many bars and restaurants when we moved to New Zealand in 2004 in Auckland, Mt Cook and Queenstown - where he met his wife, Alice. Alice also trained in Front of House and function management but has since moved her sights onto the books and manages our accounts. Phil and Alice have two children who we will be putting to work soon enough. Chris landed a chef apprenticeship at SkyCity in Auckland, working under some of the best chefs in the country. After completing training he went on to manage multiple kitchens both here in NZ and back in the UK. Howard and Zoe were both thrust into hospitality after leaving school and haven't looked back since. Howard has been the manager of The Vic for years, bar a year or two off when little sis took the reins. He married Sam and they now have two adorable kids together. Zoe was managing sister company, Burger Culture, right next door.