Last drinks will be served this weekend at the Coasters Bar of the Beachfront Hotel, ending 153 years of public houses on the old Southland Hotel site in Hokitika.
The Revell St bar is closing a month earlier than initially planned, with last drinks to be called on Sunday. After the close of business it will be shut to allow builders to move in and begin converting the bar into accommodation.
The reconfiguration of the bar into 11 studio rooms and a new reception and entrance to the Beachfront, ends the site's long association as the Southland Hotel, going back to the town's founding year in 1865.
Up until 20 years ago Hokitika was well populated with pubs, but in that time it has lost the Central, Club and Red Lion hotels.
Beachfront Hotel board chairman Peter Cuff acknowledged it was the end of an era, particularly for older patrons - "the guys that have drank there all their life".
However, the bar trade was not what it used to be, Mr Cuff said.
Over recent years people's drinking habits had changed and so the company realised the addition of rooms was more economic.
The bar had been expected to close from May 1; however, the date had been brought forward to allow builders to make a head start on the development. Beachfront general manager William Simpson said the bar upstairs in the restaurant would be modified slightly with locals in mind, and a function room would still be available for meetings and small events.
The 10 pokie machines currently in the bar will also stay in a new area to be created in the former reception.
The former ANZ Bank premises adjoining the Coasters Bar will be transformed into the new reception area and a corridor will connect to the 30 existing Ocean View rooms, providing all-weather cover, which is currently lacking.
The development is the final stage of what will be a $4 million upgrade by Tasman View Properties Ltd, following the addition of a penthouse suite and two two-bedroom units, a rebuild of the 13 Driftwood rooms and $1 million refurbishment of the Ocean View Restaurant.
- Janna Sherman, of the Hokitika Guardian
