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glenys@themudcastle.co.nz

640 Neudorf Road, Upper Moutere 7175

Catering Testimonials

"Dear Kylie and staff
Thank you so much for being  a part of our wedding day. the food was fantastic, we have had several comments about just how good the food was and not only the food, the service was also fantastic. we had such as amazing day so its great to hear our guests rave about certain parts. Thanks again."
From Lisa and Steve Grace 26 Oct 2010

 KUDOS FOOD DESIGN 2010 - Present day

"Thank you  
"Thank you for making this special day for Peter and Jing so very very special and memorable. (And your food was unbelievable!) Hopefully we'll be back again in due course."
Sylvia and John Searle
5 June 2011

"Would like to say a BIG thank you to you and your staff for catering our wedding in January 2011 at the Mudcastle.
We had organised our wedding from Brisbane and only communicated via emails. You made so easy to do by answering all of our questions big or small with prompt replies.
It was by far the best we could of ...ever imagined. It looked and tasted so good.
We highly recommend you to anyone who need a caterer! - Thanks team!"
Josie and Kieran Gray
14 January 2011

THE CATERING COMPANY  2006 - 2010

"Dear Cheryl,
Thankyou very much for the fabulous food & service at our wedding. All the guests commented on how good the food was. Please pass our thanks on to your staff as well. Thanks again."
Fiona and Chris
27th October 2007

Food Service Vol 5 No 6 July 2007
Developing the aqua culture
 

Four chefs, a historic Nelson boatshed, a water view to di(n)e for: All ingredients for the launch of the new Aquaculture New Zealand. Bill Floyd was there to check it out.
If you were a New Zealand chef asked to use farmed mussels, salmon or oysters in the launch of a new industry group featuring gubernatorial gourmets and seafood industry chiefs used to experiencing seafood cooking by the best chefs in the world: What would you do?

Oh, and you had to man your seafood station in a charming and delightful historical boathouse hall built out over the water with very limited kitchen facilities - ie, two 2.7 metre long trestle tables plus electric cord.
That's the task put to NZ chefs Charles Noville (executive chef, Bellamys and Compass Eurest Group), Jason Dell (executive chef Blanket Bay) and Eugene Hamilton (executive chef Shed 5 Wellington); plus Nelson-based catering diva Cheryl Collie. Collie's own team did mise en place for the trio plus some seafood dishes of their own.

"The event was very important for us," says Mike Burrell, CEO of Aquaculture NZ.

"We had pivotal positioning statements being released by both the Prime Minister Helen Clark and the minister for aquaculture; we had domestic and international media there and we wanted an event that was more than a policy platform: We needed to walk the talk when we said how good New Zealand aquaculture products are. Or in this case we wanted everyone to "taste the talk". And they did: Our invited chefs produced world class epicureal excellence," says Burrell.
"The New Zealand aquaculture industry is currently worth over $300 million and is working to become a sustainable billion dollar business by 2025.
"Most successful export industries learn how to be internationally successful by starting within the domestic market. New Zealand chefs for decades were land focused when they looked for menu inspiration. We're an island nation and seafood is an obvious choice for any New Zealand operation, but unless a chef was operating a very impromptu blackboard menu he or she couldn't guarantee supply of the best product 24/7.

 "The emergence of our aquaculture industry champions has changed that. Our salmon industry has focused on world-best production and created a wonderful resource for New Zealand chefs. The experience and feedback from those chefs has now allowed the industry to start to develop significant export successes. Similarly the oyster industry worked with New Zealand chefs and in so doing, refined production and harvesting techniques that means half-shell oysters, the equivalent of the finest French Belon, are now starting to appear on menus from Manhattan to Tokyo.
"And paradoxically it's interesting to note that the third member of the trilogy, the Greenshell mussel, started life as an international culinary star first, and is now being championed by New Zealand chefs.
"So for the launch of Aquaculture New Zealand a stunning chef presence was core to the event; and we wove the occasion around those chefs", says Burrell.

For the event, each chef had an industry expert at their side. Noville worked with Kannha Keo, a Pacifica Seafood's shucker. Kannha holds the title for being the world's fastest mussel shucker.
Dell had New Zealand King Salmon seafood technologist Lisa McCarron as his sous chef for the night.
Top Talleys oyster shucker, Karina Taylor, made sure a constant supply of fresh Nelson oysters were there to complement the Clevedon Oyster "half-shells" flown in for the event.

ON THE MENU

New Zealand Greenshell Mussel Station
Charles Noville...

Salmon Station
Jason Dell...

Oyster station
Eugene Hamilton...

Mise en place
Underpinning them all was Collie's team from The Catering Company. She was also asked to create a signature canapé to go with Hunters Miru Miru for the first toast. Only requirement was that it had to be superbly easy to eat, finger-food and include all three aqua-champions: mussels, salmon and oysters. She produced an Aquaculture Menage-a-trois Spring Roll and included a finely diced Golden Bay apple in it:

Aquaculture Menage-a-trois Spring Roll

Smoked Salmon Sushi Selection: An assortment of Maki sushi, Nigiri Sushi and Onigiri Sushi using New Zealand King Salmon.

The King Salmon Roll: Fresh Salmon Fillet with Spinach and Ricotta encased in a Light Puff Pastry.

Fritters on French - Smoked Chilli Mussel Fritters topped with Sour Cream and a dash of Nelson Tomato Ginger Jam.

NZ Green Shell Mussels Dynamite: Grilled ½ Shell Mussels topped with an Asian Style Kewpie Mayonnaise.

Pacific Oyster Soup Shots: Decadent and Creamy Oyster Soup topped with NZ Salmon Roe.

BBQ Station: Moroccan Marinated Chicken Kebab or Marinated Lamb Kebab with Jewelled Couscous Salad, served in Mini Noodle Boxes.

Dessert Station and New Zealand Cheeseboard Station.

Your Premiere Nelson Wedding Venue

The Mudcastle is the perfect venue for your dream wedding or event.

Weddings

Weddings at The Mudcastle are a dream come true. With on-site boutique accommodation for the bridal party, indoor and outdoor ceremony sites, top quality catering and seating for up to 100 guests, The Mudcastle offers privacy, style and attention to detail at every turn. Rainbow friendly.

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Events

Events hosted in a hand-built natural earth castle always generate a buzz. Perfect for conferences, retreats, and corporate events, creative brainstorming sessions, as well as Christmas parties, charity events, family reunions and other celebrations. Our secluded country location guarantees your privacy.

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Accommodation

Staying at The Mudcastle is always an exclusive experience. You’ll be the only booking in the entire castle and will only see the owners if you need them for something. For small groups seeking a special getaway location, multi-night self-catering stays at The Mudcastle are perfect.

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Memories You’ll Treasure Forever

You deserve

A Venue Like No Other

Celebrate your special day or host your event in a real castle, lovingly hand-built using traditional adobe bricks. It’s the only wedding venue of its kind in New Zealand.

Picture-Perfect Location

Welcome to paradise. Our gorgeous grounds and gardens and the region’s beaches, lakes, and mountains offer breath-taking photo opportunities.

A Wedding as individual as you are

Relax in the knowledge that your hosts have over 30 years experience in making dreams come true. They can help you with any aspect of planning your day should you want or need their assistance.

Testimonials

“Thank you so much Glenys, it was a lovely family time - busy but precious memories were made in your lovely home which encompassed us all so perfectly”.
Jane Kennedy
January 2023

Great location beautiful layout inside. Very friendly atmosphere. Real delicious meals. Ideal wedding venue.
Melford J

“A sincere thanks from the Rusty Spokes for letting us into your lovely quirky Mud Castle. We had a great couple of nights and only hope that we did not leave too huge a mess for you. Thank you for letting us convert the great hall into a bicycle workshop: don’t know how we would have managed otherwise in the rain. You were fantastic hosts and we are still buzzing from the experience. 
Cheers,
Vic and The Rusty Spokes”

Wonderful hosts. Delicious food catering for all dietary requirements. Fascinating story. Looking forward to my next visit.
Warwick
No8 Tours

We recently had our wedding at The Mudcastle and it was the perfect experience. You can't beat the setting and Glenys & Kevin are the perfect hosts. All the guests were raving about the food and the location. If you're looking for a wedding venue in the Nelson Marlborough region this is the place to go!
-- J. Gerbich

Dear Glenys & Kevin,
"The word is out and our wedding was top tier for all attendees. It was beyond perfect and all of that was down to you. Thank you for allowing our mob of Aussies and West Coasters to invade your house,for the patience and kindness you had with us all night and for putting up with us well into the wee hours. The venue and you as hosts were unbelievable and gave us a day we will cherish forever."

--Sam & Janelle Loveridge

Hi Glenys,
"How have you been? Humphrey and I have been continue traveling the world and we’re currently in Malaysia. Humphrey’s brother, has sent us some photos from our wedding and we wanted to share them with you. They really did turn out fantastic. Please feel free to show these photos to your potential guests if you want to give them some ideas of what their special day might look like! We really had a great time and it was the best day of our lives. Thank you again for everything you and Kevin did to make it so special!"

-- Sally & Humprey

“We had a perfect day and couldn't imagine having our wedding anywhere else, The Mudcastle is a fabulous venue. All our guests commented on the lovely setting. Thanks again."

-- Fiona & Chris McGlinchey

"The greatest of hosts plus the most romantic venue equals the "perfect" wedding. Thank you!"

-- Allan and Barbara Stevens

“We have great memories of our stay at the mud castle we talk about it often. Don't forget if you are coming over the ditch you are welcome to visit & stay at our humble abode it is not a castle LOL . But I am sure you will be comfortable.”

--  cheers from Mick & Sharon Applebee

“Thank you again so much for being lovely hosts and letting us use your beautiful home for our wedding.”

--Zoe & Michael Hughes

“I had the pleasure of coming to the wedding of a good friend several months ago. I said at the time that I would write a note to you about my time at The Mudcastle because I talked to you both before we left that night. I loved the way that the castle had many little cosy places to talk with friends away from the larger parts of the venue - you could still hear what was happening but have some quietness so you could enjoy talking together in small groups. I loved the way that you catered for the children who were there - they were really happy and if they wanted to be noisy, they had other places they could enjoy themselves in without being too noisy in the reception. You even thought to put little chocolate bites out for them and they, along with everyone else were fascinated with the ice swans - really different and gorgeous! The food was absolutely magnificent and that roast beef was out of this world - so tender, cooked perfectly and very full of flavour. The dessert was amazing - I could not fault the catering. There was a very homely feeling about the place and when the meals were served from your lovely large open kitchen you just felt so at home. All your staff were extremely helpful and friendly at all times. Thanks so much for such a special night.

--Angela Potton

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