Rutland Arms Inn

This is a fantastic pub with great food and great service. I’ve frequented this place on many occasions whilst a regular visitor to Whanganui and it’s consistently great. Would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a warm and hospitable experience.

Nice little hotel right in the center of town. Well renovated old building with a few quirks. Comfortable spacious room with AC and solid WiFi.

We stayed at the Rutland Arms as part of a longer stay on our drive down to Wellington. The staff were all very friendly and the room decor was very nice. We didn't make it to the bar to get a drink in the evening, but the breakfast was good with a choice of cereals, yoghurt, berries, toast, and coffee. Only negatives were that the room was quite warm (even though the ceiling fan was on) and there was some paint missing in the bathroom that hindered the overall room decor. The hallway was much cooler than the room and the room is facing the sun, so perhaps adding blackout curtains to keep the sun out during the day might be an easy fix.

Very disappointed by the service provided by the staff at a recent wake attended by a group from all over NZ and Australia. An issue on booking numbers that was unfortunately not managed well at all. Rude staff, poor service, derogatory comments to the paying customer about being a liar, point blank refusal to serve alcohol to dining guests was an escalation way above the booking issue. No guests in NZ deserve to be told to F off. I felt management on the night failed to take responsibility for his wait staff and manage the situation in a professional manner. A very unfortunate incident that could have easily been avoided.

Well where too begin!!! At my friend's father's wake, After lots of money spent (but it's not all about the money) it was after we had our lovely dinner that we got told to leave!!! We were all rather gobsmacked! After grieving for our friend, I am sure he wouldn't have won't it to end this way unbelievable. I did question the Manager, he just wouldn't answer my question but said "just leave" , we couldn't believe how aggressive they where to us, we where a party of 60 year olds. So we left, and decided to go to to another establishment, we where welcome with open arms. I also would like to say the lady with the Australian accent, was very much a lady!!! I will never go to this place again, fancy staff being so rude to people that are greiving!!!

My uncle's wake was held at the Rutland on a Wednesday evening in early November and the experience was marred by disappointing treatment from the staff. Initially, everything seemed fine until a couple of extra guests joined us for dinner. The staff seemed upset about this, claiming we had lied about the number of people when booking the table. We explained that it was a wake, and it's challenging to predict how many people will stay, but our explanation fell on deaf ears. Their main concern appeared to be their workload with other tables, which I found to be a less than empathetic response, given the circumstances. To make matters worse, we were accused of being drunk. While it's true some of us had been drinking, no one was behaving in an obnoxious or difficult manner. A few of us were teary, given the nature of the occasion, but there was no disruptive behaviour. I believe the situation could have been resolved amicably if the staff had communicated their concerns to us and allowed us to explain the context. Unfortunately, a decision was made without considering our perspective, leaving us feeling unfairly judged. This experience was particularly distressing for my cousins, who had just lost their father. Instead of feeling supported and understood during a difficult time, they were made to feel as though they had done something wrong. It was disheartening to witness the lack of compassion and understanding from the staff, especially in a hospitality setting where empathy and kindness should prevail. On this occasion, the Rutland's hospitality fell short. I had hoped for a more understanding and compassionate response, considering the nature of the event. Unfortunately, due to this disappointing experience, I have decided not to return to the Rutland in the future.

The Rutland Arms Hotel is a gem in the heart of Whanganui. The individual and thoughtful decor of the rooms captures the essence of the historic origins of the hotel and the restaurant and bar are bustling and cosy, offering a varied menu and catering very well for GF. The continental breakfast, included in the tariff was excellent. We’ll definitely be back.

This was a lovely Boutique Hotel! Loved it’s quaintness and good amenities! Dinner was excellent and we will definitely stay here again!

I visited this restaurant while on a business trip to Whanganui. The food was exceptional, I went for the steak which was cooked to perfection and accompanied with some very tasty vegetables. The beers selection was brilliant and I will certainly visit again on a non-work day to test more of the beers on offer. The staff were great, very attentive. I would recommend a visit if you are in the area.