"The Garrick"

Suva won't be the same without "The Garrick"

Sue Wendt, in Suva, and W. H. Percival, in Rarotonga, send nostalgic reports about some proposed changes.

SUVA won’t seem the same to the old-timers, now that the Garrick has gone.

Even in a relative newcomer, the shabby old pub on the corner of Thomson and Pier Streets inspired affection.

It was a link with the Colonial past, quaint, old-fashioned, down-at heel, but somehow warm-hearted and comfortingly human.

No plate-glass vistas or glittering chrome in this pub, no carpets or chandeliers. Just wholesome four course meals for much less than a dollar, silverware worn from handling by countless loyal patrons and half a century of memories stored in the dusty ceilings.

The hotel closed its doors for the last time at 9 p.m. on September 29, after operating in its present wood and cement building as the Pier Hotel from 1915 and as the Garrick from 1937.

The site is owned by the Garrick Estate, and will be used now for shops and offices.

The proprietor, Vince Costello, was more than a trifle sad to close the big doors of the main entrance on September 29—and among the loyal regulars, there for a last noggin or two, both beer and nostalgia flowed thick and fast.

One of the last to breast the bar was the Mayor of Suva, Mr. L. G.

Usher, who stayed there more than 40 years ago. He arrived from Auckland in February, 1930, to take up a teaching appointment at Levuka Public School, His main recollection of his first night at the hotel, which was then

the Pier, was having to sleep under a mosquito net. He’d never used one before, he says now.

Another man sad to see the last of the Garrick is Mr. Bihari Lai, the 63-year-old chef. He joined the staff of the Pier as kitchen boy in 1922 —and has been there almost every day since.

The only times he can remember being absent from his duties were 10 days in 1926 and eight days last year, both times when he was ill.

“I’m retiring now,” said Mr. Lai.

“I have some money in the bank, and with this I’ll rest.”

The head barman, 58-year-old Mr.

Bal Kissun, is another long-timer.

He became a message boy for Mr.

Dan Costello in 1928. He remembers when 14 oz handles of imported draught beer cost about 9d and imported bottled beer 1/6 a bottle.

The hotel had been a Costello institution since the late Dan Costello took over ownership from Mrs.

Evetts in 1926.

Vince Costello worked as barman

for brother Dan for five years, then he and another brother, Jim, took over in 1937, and changed the name to the Garrick.

“Tourists were starting to trickle in, even way back then,” recalls Vince. “They didn’t want to stay in a hotel right on the waterfront, and the name Pier Hotel gave the impression of being right on the docks—although by that time it wasn’t.

“So in order to compete with pubs like the Melbourne and the Grand Pacific, we changed the name.”

When Jim Costello returned to Australia 10 years later, Vince bought his share and became the sole proprietor. He’s been there ever since, carrying on the traditions of old-style hospitality.

Now that the Garrick’s gone, Vince has had to change his allegiance.

He’ll be carrying on his Mine Host activities at the Hotel Suva, which he bought recently in partnership with former Club Hotel manager, Mr.

Norm MacDonald.

The Garrick Hotel in its hey day is depicted in this advertise ment from an issue of "PIM" of 20 years ago.