Beer flows again as pub 'saga' ends

ON BOARD: Colin Gillott, left, and owner Mike Shale re-open the Eketahuna Inn.

Wairarapa publican Mike Shale has reclaimed the Eketahuna Inn after what he calls "a bit of a long, drawn-out saga".

Earlier this week police were called to the premises to calm a dispute between the previous lessee and staff and contractors who claimed to have been unpaid by her.

Mr Shale, as the owner of the building, took over management yesterday with the help of former premise owner Colin Gillott, and said he owed it to the town to get the pub up and running again.

"We just owe it to the town to keep it open cause it's been a bit of a sad, long drawn-out saga for the past two years," he said.

He said this had been the third time the building's lessees had been unsuccessful in operating the pub and that, in hindsight, he wished he had taken over management earlier.

"It'll work out all right, we'll get there," he said. "I'll keep going for a while, and Colin has assured me he'll help me as long as I need him, but we couldn't just leave it like it was, shut."

Between them, Mr Shale and Mr Gillott have more than 70 years of experience in the hospitality industry.

Levi Kelly was among other residents and former employees busy yesterday readying the pub for its swift reopen, writing "Under New Management" at the entrance of the building.

"Eke needs a pub," Mr Kelly said. "It shouldn't have gone the way it did and it was pretty dumb for the community to have to go through that.

"Having Colin back in there and having Mike Shale in, we know it's going to do well and it's good for the town to have something here again."

Service at the bar commenced at 4pm yesterday.