Two historic small town pubs for sale - lock, stock and barrel

The Central Hotel in Dargaville. Photo / Supplied

Personal dreams of owning and running a classic small-town pub could soon be realised by purchasers seeking a change of lifestyle with two character-filled late 19th century hotels up for sale.

The Central Hotel in Dargaville, Northland and the Alpha Hotel in Kihikihi, 5km to the south of the rural centre of Te Awamutu in the Waikato, will be sold through Roger Seavill of Colliers International by deadline private treaty closing on November 2, unless sold prior to the deadline date.

Seavill, who is marketing the properties, says the freehold going concern of both hotels is included in the offer, "meaning they are for sale lock, stock and barrel - land, buildings and businesses". He expects the properties to appeal to owner-occupiers.

"We anticipate interest from people looking for the chance to escape the city and live their dreams of operating a small town pub and restaurant business," he says. "Equally, the properties present an opportunity for passive investors."

Dargaville's Central Hotel sits on a 2064sq m corner site at 18-22 Victoria St, on the periphery of the town's main retail centre.

The 1910sq m, two-storey weatherboard hotel opened in 1876 and holds a Category Two listing from the Historic Places Trust.

The hotel's interior comprises a reception area, dining room, commercial kitchen, informal lounge with fireplace and the main bar area on the ground floor.

A dedicated gaming area with 12 poker machines has a separate entry and fitted bar.

Two accommodation wings upstairs contain 13 guest rooms, an additional lounge with fireplace and a two-bedroom owners' apartment.

An enclosed, 130sq m yard and off-street carparks make up the remainder of the land area.

Further south the Alpha Hotel sits on a large 5411sq m site on the corner of Lyon St and Havelock St in Kihikihi.

The 1074sq m weatherboard hotel is also registered by the Historic Places Trust as Category Two building.

The public areas comprise a restaurant, function room, public bar, lounge bar, gaming area with 14 poker machines and a restaurant with full commercial kitchen.

Seven guest rooms and managers' accommodation are on the upper level, with a separate accommodation block, added during a later construction, providing eight additional guest rooms and bathrooms. A decked garden bar, verandah areas and carparking make up part of the substantial exterior of the property.

John Hagar of Colliers International in Hamilton, who is marketing the property with Seavill, says the Alpha Hotel is a well-known local establishment offering plenty of potential for its future owner.