Landmark sold

Historic Martinborough Hotel will be in new hands from next month.

The 130-year-old building is set to come under new ownership by Mark Green, his wife Sarah and a business partner.

Mr and Mrs Green currently run the Petit Hotel, just down the road on Kitchener St.

Mr Green said he hoped to attract more people to the magnificent old country building.

"We are going to spruce it up a bit and decorate several rooms," he said.

"Martinborough is a real destination for all people around New Zealand. They drive to the square and say this is where we want to stay."

Mike Laven, who has owned the Martinborough Hotel for 18 years, refused to go into much detail about why it was being sold.

"We are just pleased to be able to sell it."

A focal point in the Martinborough Square, the hotel was historically a stop for wealthy travellers to and from South Wairarapa's isolated sheep stations.

Mr Green declined to say how much the hotel was purchased for.

Last year the hotel had a rateable value of $2.3 million.