Horseshoe bar dismisses talk of closure

The Horseshoe bar in Masterton lives on says the Masterton Licensing Trust, dismissing rumours that it is about to close.
Chief executive Patrick Teahan said he knew stories were circulating that the 55-year-old bar was less popular than it had been and that it has had its day.
But he said the truth is quite the opposite.
The trust is drawing up plans for a major upgrade of the Horseshoe bar to be presented to the board about April.
Mr Teahan says in recent years the trust has been faced with multiple upgrades of its outlets and realistically the Horseshoe just had to wait its turn.
The trust is now in the middle of a $4 million refurbishment of its Solway Park complex.
It has just finishing spending $550,000 on the Kuripuni Tavern and $120,000 on new furniture at the Homestead bar.
The Horseshoe was built in 1951 by the Masterton Licensing Trust just four year's into its existence.
It was the first purpose-built bar in Masterton for 40 years after the district's "dry period" of 1909?1947. Originally known as the Masterton Bar and Lounge, it was the trust's contribution to a grand scheme to make the north end of Masterton a war memorial precinct.
Its English-styled oval shape was quickly nicknamed the Horseshoe.
The downstairs bar has had a chequered history.
It is the undisputed watering hole for Golden Shears competitors each March and was the scene of the murder of barman John Mita, on the night of the Golden Shears final in 1977.
He was shot dead by carpenter Colin Burt who then fled with $1500.
Mr Mita had worked at the Horseshoe for four years and his murder launched a massive manhunt involving 26 detectives and the armed offenders squad.
About 70 people, including relatives and friends of the slain barman packed the public gallery of the Masterton Magistrate's court when Burt appeared to face charges.
An accomplice later gave evidence against him.
Burt was sentenced to life imprisonment and died in Hastings hospital in August 2002, aged 64.
Patronage of the Horseshoe has come and gone and there have been many upgrades of not only the bar, but of the entire building.
The bottle store has been relocated and upstairs there have been a variety of arrangements from Chinese restaurants, bistro bars, to a home brewery and private function facilities.
Today, the former Elizabethan room facing north is set aside for private functions and the east facing original lounge bar is Burridge's restaurant.
The curved shape of the Horseshoe bar has been acknowledged as a special architectural feature and part of Masterton's history.
As a result it is listed on Masterton District Council's schedule of heritage items meaning nothing can be done to alter it without council permission.
Mr Teahan said the trust appreciates this historical aspect and it's another reason why it is so keen to keep it open.
"It's very much part of Masterton", he said.