Cardrona

Living close to Cardrona means that every time I pass by I am reminded of Cardrona in Otago, South Island, New Zealand. Not just by the name (like so many other Scottish names taken there by exiles), but also because of the uncanny resemblance of the Village Store in the Borders to the hotel in the antipodes. The Cardrona Hotel there is full of character (unlike the Cardrona Hotel here, some would say.) It was built during the 19th century gold rush.

In 1926 James Patterson purchased the New Zealand hotel and became a local legend. Patterson, known as Jimmy, owned the hotel until his death in 1961 at the age of 91. He controlled the amount patrons could drink depending on which direction they were travelling. Men travelling over the treacherous Crown Range road were only allowed one drink, while those travelling to Wanaka were allowed two. Jimmy preferred not to sell any alcohol to women. Every winter Jimmy travelled to Christchurch and simply shut the hotel doors, leaving a note – ‘Beer under counter- help yourself.’