Damages were sought from the Robson-Burrells\u2019 company, All About Chocolate (AAC), as the first defendant in the case.<\/p>\n
The Robson-Burrells, as co-directors of their company and second and third defendants, provided guarantees which made them liable for the damages equivalent to the unpaid rent of more than $60,000 plus the unpaid outgoings.<\/p>\n
Riverhaven also claimed the value of extra works carried out on the premises, re-opening costs, losses incurred by underperformance, reputational damage and 14% interest on the unpaid rent.<\/p>\n
The statement of claim showed Riverhaven agreed to undertake a number of works to the property before and during the sublease, but the Robson-Burrells said in their defence that they were more extensive than what they agreed to.<\/p>\n
The case was described by the plaintiff\u2019s lawyer, Nic Lawrence, as \u201crelatively straightforward\u201d.<\/p>\n
Among the list of claims he fought to debunk were that the Robson-Burrells consented to being filmed. <\/p>\n
The ITV three-part documentary series, Noel Edmonds\u2019 Kiwi Adventure, chronicled the veteran British presenter\u2019s life in New Zealand<\/a>, where he relocated and then took on the rural hospitality and leisure venture in the Motueka Valley.<\/p>\n Filming for the series, which recently screened in the UK, began in September 2024 and ended in December 2024.<\/p>\n Disagreement over their eventual involvement in the filming, including Tony Robson-Burrell\u2019s claim he became a \u201cmain character\u201d in the programme and their allegations it interfered with the running of the hospitality business on site, formed a key plank in the defendants\u2019 argument.<\/p>\n Exit \u2018out of the blue\u2019<\/p>\n The Robson-Burrells had been trading for a month when it \u201cbecame clear\u201d they were \u201cnot handling the stress\u201d of running three venues, Lawrence alleged.<\/p>\n He said \u201cout of the blue\u201d, in November 2024, the couple sent an email terminating the lease and said they would not be operating the next day.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry about the bombshell but we\u2019re leaving River Haven with immediate effect,\u201d the Robson-Burrells said in an email presented as evidence in court.<\/p>\n The couple, who have operated businesses in the hospitality sector<\/a> for some years, alleged they had been pressured and \u201charassed\u201d by Edmonds, who had \u201ctoo much control\u201d over the running of the restaurant when they wanted complete autonomy.<\/p>\n They alleged the terms of the sublease had been breached through others entering the premises after hours without their consent, using their stock, leaving a mess, influencing staff, interference with the running of the restaurant, criticisms, insistence on viewing staff contracts, requests for regular meetings, harassment via email and the use of audio and visual CCTV on the premises without their consent. <\/p>\n They also claimed the terms of the sublease were \u201csubstantially different\u201d to what they had agreed to. <\/p>\n This included a bigger renovation which impacted their alcohol licence and costs associated with it, not advising them that a coffee caravan on site had no operating licence, greater involvement in filming than agreed to and \u201ccontinual interference with the day-to-day running of our business\u201d. <\/p>\n Floods, filming and fallout<\/p>\n Edmonds and his wife bought the $30 million property in 2022 as a hospitality venture with a vineyard, pub, cafe, wellness centre and general store.<\/p>\n The property was in the news last year as among many stricken by the floods in Tasman<\/a>.<\/p>\nTV presenter Noel Edmonds\u2019 new series, Noel Edmonds’ Kiwi Adventure, recently aired in the UK. Photo \/ ITV<\/p>\n