Kiwi country pub for sale
Have you ever dreamed of owning a country hotel the sort of place where everyone knows your name? ou’re in luck. One of New Zealand’s most profitable country hotels is on the market.
The Riversdale Hotel is a commercial accommodation business and property comprising approximately 822sqm of buildings, situated on a 2024sqm corner property title, in the centre of the township of Riversdale, Southland. Riversdale is on State Highway 94 between Gore and Lumsden (both 20 minutes away).
All the hard work has been done for the new owners to walk in to a turn key operation. This business is COVID proof with turnover in excess of $1m plus GST per annum, which equates to a stable $20k to $28k (plus GST) every week with no domestic or international tourist turnover just the local community!
The business offers multiple cash-flow options consisting of:
* a large bar with outdoor courtyard
* bottle shop
* four pokie machines in a dedicated gaming room
* a restaurant/function room that seats approximately 65 guests
* caf /takeaways serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and coffee
* six share facility guest accommodation rooms
* the owner’s apartment (market rent approx $350 per week) which is made up of two double bedrooms, one single bedroom, lounge, kitchen and bathroom plus a heat pump. If the new owners lived offsite, the upstairs hotel guest accommodation would revert to 10 share facility accommodation bedrooms.
The current operators, Christine & Bob Oliver, have spent considerable money to replace much of the external timber cladding, upgrade all the bedrooms, bathrooms and internal flooring, plant and equipment including the keg room, chillers and the commercial kitchen.
This property is now futureproofed, with the major refurbishment complete, and is ready for new owners to enjoy some of the best country pub trading in New Zealand!
Christine and Bob bought
the business in 2015. “But I had worked there prior to that, so I’ve been here a lot longer, ” Christine says. “Bob and I have always liked a challenge, to do something different, and have owned several businesses over the years.”
So what have they enjoyed most? “Meeting the people,” Christine says. “It’s the people that make it! We just had 30 people from the Invercargill vintage car club through for lunch today and it was great.”
Car clubs and their weekend visits are always welcomed. “When you have 60-80 motorbikes out front and they want you to judge the ‘best presented bike’ which is really hard as some of them are amazing! We love it.”
“The people are the highlight. It’s a very supportive rural community, and it’s been a great place to live.”
Last year Emmerson’s brewery brought their tiny bar to a local event that was organised for the farmers of the area. Richard Emmerson and his staff stayed at the hotel. Christine and Bob got talking to them about the history of Riversdale and Richard mentioned that his father was a train enthusiast who took thousands of slides of trains and railway stations from around Southland and Otago. Richard inherited this collection from his father and offered to look out for any images of the Riversdale railway station which was pulled down many years ago.
“A few weeks later Richard, his wife, and manager Greg returned with four prints beautifully mounted and framed for us to put up in the dining room as a gift,” Christine says. “They are amazing and such a cool gift for the hotel, very appreciated.”
Owning any hospitality business is more than just a job. It’s a lifestyle and the Riversdale Hotel has given Christine and Bob a great work life balance and some lovely relationships with the locals. They love supporting local musicians and have fabulous local staff.
“It’s a great people-person business, also with the hospitality side of things it’s perfect for a chef or front of house type person,” Christine says.
“There’s also heaps of potential as we’re not far from anywhere and we’re right in the centre of all the really cool stuff that Southland and Otago have to offer!”
Broker Adrian Chisholm says, “I am very honoured to be the listing business broker on this awesome country pub which is presented in absolute mint condition and trading exceptionally well with consistent turnover and profitability.”
“It is very seldom that all the ducks line up in a row like this property and business. All the hard work is done and the new owners can just move in and enjoy the ride.”