New owners, makeover for Naramata Heritage Inn

NARAMATA, B.C. – Four B.C. hospitality players have come together to buy and renovate the Naramata Heritage Inn. They include a renowned chef, a marketing expert, a design and landscaping expert, and the former CEO of A&W.

Built in 1907, the Naramata Heritage Inn has been a hub for culture and recreation on the eastern shore of Okanagan Lake for more than a century. It is with great pride that the Naramata Hospitality Limited Partnership announced today it has taken ownership of the storied inn.

Composed of four of B.C.’s hospitality experts – Chef Ned Bell, Kate Colley, Paul Hollands and Maria Wiesner – the Naramata Hospitality Limited Partnership has a deep appreciation for, and commitment to, the Okanagan Valley and all that it represents. The partnership formed through the unique combination of like-mindedness around food, hospitality, lifestyle, values, and dreams.

Bell is a well-known Canadian culinary talent who has forged a path as a chef advocate, keynote speaker and educator. Colley offers more than two decades of experience, education and relationships showing off the best of British Columbia’s beautiful destinations, award-winning eateries, culinary bright lights, a bounty of ingredients and, of course, terrific wines. Wiesner has a passion for design, landscaping and gardens and is leading the design and landscaping elements of the project. After 35 years building one of Canada’s largest food services businesses, Hollands retired as CEO of A&W Food Services of Canada in 2018.

“I’ve had the good fortune to work around the globe in my 30-year career as a chef and culinary ambassador,” says Bell. “I’ve experienced many of the world’s finest food and wine regions. The Okanagan is the equal to any of them. We are so excited about the opportunity to invest and build our future here.”

Constructed 113 years ago by the town’s founder, J.M. Robinson, the Naramata Inn would welcome some of the Okanagan’s very first tourists and go on to weave a colourful thread throughout Naramata’s history. The partners want to build on that legacy, and write the Inn’s next chapter based on outstanding culinary experiences, warm Okanagan hospitality, and a true commitment to local artisanship.

The inn will deliver a proudly “Naramatian” experience. From produce to proteins, the menus will be built around the best local growers and artisans in Naramata and the Valley. It will showcase the true depth and breadth of award-winning wines produced by British Columbia’s winemakers.

“The opportunity to reimagine a legacy property like the Naramata Inn is a real gift,” shares Hollands. “We are looking forward to creating something that will have such a positive impact on the community, the Okanagan Valley and ultimately guests from all over the world.”