- The Hurunui Hotel, a 150-year-old Canterbury pub, is for sale for $995,000 after failing to find a buyer since 2021.
- Owner Adam Martin aims to lease the property, which includes a function centre and guest rooms, to revive its operations.
- The hotel, holding Canterbury’s oldest liquor licence, was impacted by Covid and seeks new operators.
The owners of a 150-year-old Canterbury pub that holds one of the country’s oldest liquor licences say it has been closed for long enough.
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The Hurunui Hotel shut its doors more than a year ago. It has been on the market for sale since 2021, dropping in price from $1.695 million - when it was previously attached to a vineyard - to $995,000 now, but still no buyer has appeared.
Hurunui Hotel owner Adam Martin told OneRoof the current climate had made it hard to find someone to take over the property, which includes a function centre, restaurant, bar and café, campground, a self-contained manager’s flat and six guest rooms.
Hurunui Hotel was a popular spot for locals and tourists. Photo / Supplied
The hotel also offers accommodation, including six rooms and a campground. Photo / Supplied
Covid had severely impacted its operations and dented tourist visits.
“Rural hospitality businesses aren’t for everyone, and the last couple of years haven’t been easy for the sector,” Martin told OneRoof.
He wants to see the hotel open its doors to the public again, so he has come up with a plan B.
“We originally put it on the market to find the right buyer, but unfortunately, that hasn’t happened as quickly as we hoped. Rather than letting the building sit idle, we’ve since turned our focus to finding someone to lease it and bring it back to life.”
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He’s had interest from people all over the country and plans to negotiate next steps with serious parties next week.
“The idea is that the operators will be able to get it up and running with a view of eventually being able to buy it outright.”
Martin bought the hotel in 2018 for $730,000 after strengthening work was carried out following the Kaikōura earthquake. He spent nine months renovating the building before reopening it.
There’s also a function centre onsite. Photo / Supplied
“Having grown up in the region, my wife and I saw an opportunity to do something [for us] and to open a much-loved location for the locals.”
The Hurunui Hotel, which is on the Alpine Pacific touring route, holds the oldest liquor licence in Canterbury, dating back to 1868, and was built with limestone quarried to make way for Weka Pass. The heritage-protected building was moved, stone by stone, to its current home on State Highway 7 after the banks of the Hurunui River flooded.
Martin added: “We always thought it would sell to a family. People who are passionate about history and hospitality. Someone who appreciates the significance of the hotel.”
The deadline for expressions of interest on the Cardrona Hotel is 4pm on August 15. Photo / Supplied
The Hurunui Hotel is not the only high-profile watering hole up for grabs in the South Island. Also up for grabs is the Cardrona Hotel, in neighbouring Queenstown-Lakes. The historic property was listed for sale at the start of July and quickly became the country’s most viewed listing this year.
The deadline for offers closes on August 15, and co-owner Cade Thornton told OneRoof that buyers from New Zealand, Australia, United States, United Kingdom and Singapore had been in touch.
“We’ve had an immense amount of interest, as you can imagine. It’s been a very busy process for us. There have been more than 10 very, very interested parties working towards making an offer,” Thornton said.
“Hopefully it sells. We’ll see. You never know. It doesn’t sell until the money’s in the bank.”
- The Hurunui Hotel, at 1224 Karaka Road, is for sale for $995,000
