One of New Zealand's oldest hotels has been bought by the Masterton Licensing Trust.
The Greytown Hotel, commonly known as the top pub, will be signed over to the trust on November 26.
Masterton Licensing Trust chief executive Bernard Teahan said there would be an extensive upgrade of the hotel in the
New Year.
"The previous owners have done some planning for an upgrade and we will be picking up on those plans. The Top Pub leans itself towards a more extensive food market."
Mr Teahan said the upgrade will be a conversion to a flow-through bar and restaurant.
"Greytown is changing and has a large number of visitors particularly in the weekends and the trust wanted to be a part of that growth, which made the hotel very appealing."
"We've been looking at designs similar to the way Speight's Ale House works and will be using a similar concept in Greytown."
"This idea will work a lot better with the character of the Top Pub rather than having a designated restaurant area. It will be a restaurant and bar though, not a caf? like we have done at The Horseshoe."
Mr Teahan said the outdoor area will be enhanced and the building is in need of some paint and refurbishing.
"The building lends to having a bar on the left and the restaurant on the right but at the moment there is the gaming facilities to the right, which would probably be better in the back."
"Greytown is changing and has a large number of visitors particularly in the weekends and the trust wanted to be a part of that growth, which made the hotel very appealing."
Mr Teahan said he is often told about properties coming up for sale in the area and the trust is regularly offered an opportunity to purchase them first.
The trust has also purchased the Lower Hutt Liquorland store that it will run from December 3, he said.
