The Coach and Horses Inn in Lawrence, which faced an uncertain future last week, will reopen under new management this morning.
Two long-time friends, Anne-Marie Russell, of Dunedin, and Gillian Kitchen, of Christchurch, the two shareholders of company Into The Groove Ltd, have made an offer to buy the business.
A temporary licence and other arrangements have been hastily put in place, and the doors will open at 10.30am.
A long-running dispute between former lessee Ben Hart and the landlords, Coach and Horses partnership, came to a head last week when Mr Hart began closing the establishment on unspecified days as a form of protest against what he called an unfair arrangement with the landlord.
Last night, Ms Russell told the Otago Daily Times her company's offer was being considered by the landlord group which had terminated Mr Hart's contract earlier this week.
Ms Russell and her business partner said they saw "a fantastic opportunity" to invest in a business in a thriving centre with a great future.
"We intend to take a very minimal income out, and plough everything else back into the business," Ms Russell said.
And it would be business as usual for patrons, starting from this morning.
Ms Russell, a former air force chef, planned to look at improving the variety of food served, while she and Ms Kitchen were keen to upgrade the inn, which is in the centre of town.
"It's all go and full steam ahead. We're both really excited."
