14th Lane Urban Hotel

14th Lane Urban Hotel sits at 1A Kinross Street in central Blenheim, in the middle of Marlborough wine country. The restored building dates to the early 1940s and previously operated as one of the town's only nightclubs. The hotel has eight rooms, a 5-star Qualmark Gold rating, and opened around 2020 or 2021.

The place

Kinross Street is in Blenheim's central business district, within walking distance of the town's bars, cafés and shops. Marlborough Airport is about seven kilometres away, which matters for visitors flying in from Wellington or Auckland for a weekend among the cellar doors.

Parking is on site, and a shuttle is available for an extra charge.

The concept

The project converts a heritage building from the early 1940s into an owner-managed boutique hotel, with an understated exterior and individually styled rooms. Bathrooms use New Zealand-made luxury products throughout.

Five room types share the eight units. The Standard King is 24 square metres and sits on the ground floor, wheelchair accessible. The King Studio and the Superior King are 30 square metres with kitchenettes, the Superior Double or Twin is 24, and the Deluxe King, the largest, is 37. Upper-floor rooms face either the quiet street or the inner courtyard and are reached by stairs only. All have a private bathroom with walk-in shower, bathrobes, a coffee machine, air conditioning, a flat-screen television and soundproofing.

Dining & wellness

There is no restaurant in the building. Breakfast is brought to the room, with special diets catered for on request, and aperitifs are served in the lobby lounge in the early evening. The restaurants of central Blenheim are all within walking distance.

Guests also get complimentary access to the pool, steam room and sauna at the nearby Marlborough Lines Stadium.