“Rossendale”, originates from “The Forest of Rossendale” Lancashire, England. Albert James Rawstron was born 5th November 1860 at Mill End, Newchurch. He worked in cotton mills from the age of 8. At the age of 12 he left home to work in a quarry; at the age of 21 he emigrated to New Zealand. He finally settled in Christchurch, where he married for a second time and raised another family. George Rawstron is Albert’s youngest son. George used the name “Rossendale” for his cattle stud when he shifted into the Lansdowne Valley in 1952. George’s youngest son, Brent, and his wife Shirley, then used this name when establishing “Rossendale Restaurant” in 1994. The English connection is kept alive with frequent visitors calling in from the “Rossendale” area in Lancashire.

Rossendale Restaurant occupies the old Gatekeepers Lodge to the Lansdowne Homestead. It was built in 1875 to a Benjamin Mountfort design. Between July 1993 and March 1994 the building was extensively renovated. The original building was found to be in poor repair and was essentially rebuilt, however some windows and beams were recycled. The refurbishment has produced the comfortable surroundings you see today. Rossendale Restaurant was opened on 25th March 1994 by the Mayor of Christchurch, Ms Vicki Buck.

Since 1987 Rossendale Farm has produced high quality beef. This special product is only available in our Restaurant and in “Dallmayrs Delicatessen”, Munich, Germany.

Rossendale beef stars on the menu as “Rossendale Prime Aged Ribeye” and is prepared medium rare. To date the Rossendale chefs have won nine New Zealand Beef and Lamb Hallmark of Excellence Gold Plates using “Rossendale Prime Aged Ribeye”.

Rossendale held it's 10 year anniversary in 2004.