A chippie and former owner of a hair salon have moved across state lines and into a Riverina pub they bought before even setting foot inside.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Debbie and Daren Mercer, both aged 51, were living in Ballarat and had endured lockdown after lockdown.
When Mr Mercer had a knee replacement and could no longer work full-time as a tradie, the couple decided they would take on a new business venture together.
Lockhart's Commercial Hotel had been closed since February 2020, and when they spotted it was up for sale, it seemed to be the perfect spot.
Mrs Mercer said they drove up to the Riverina town last week for the final inspection and have been busy getting everything ready for opening.
IN OTHER NEWS:
"Because of COVID, we could come into NSW, but we wouldn't have been able to go back," she said.
"We actually bought it sight unseen. Of course, we did a video call but that's all we saw.
"Then, when we finally got here, it was so exciting."
Mrs Mercer had worked mainly as a senior executive assistant for chief executives and chairpersons of investment banks.
Then, she decided to start her own hair salon in Ballarat and ran that for eight years.
Armed with a background in business, hospitality service from years working at London pubs and a passion for good food, the pair are ready to reopen the Lockhart pub.
"When we saw this one, we fell in love with it," Mrs Mercer said.
"We knew we could walk in and be trading within one to two weeks.
"We won't be making any changes. It's more just tidying things up and freshening everything a bit."
Mrs Mercer said the locals had already been so welcoming, and she was excited to meet even more of them when they could finally open the doors.
"People have been so supportive, and I think they are just really excited to have their pub back," Mrs Mercer said.
"In regional areas, the local pubs are like the heart of country towns.
"We are planning to be here for a long time."
News of pub sales has been common during 2021, both in Wagga and in other regional hubs.
Iconic Wagga watering holes such as Romano's, The William Farrer Hotel and Sporties were sold this year, as well as the freehold for The Duke of Kent Hotel.
After much speculation and more than 200 buyer inquiries, the new owner of The Sir George Hotel in Jugiong was revealed as long-time publican and hotel operator Fraser Short.
Earlier this month, Australian Community Media revealed there had been at least 66 pub sales in regional NSW alone this year, with sale prices ranging from as little as $1.8 million to around $40 million for the Lennox Hotel.
There have also been plenty of sales in regional Victoria, including the $38 million sale of the Lorne Hotel, on the Surf Coast, to Sydney-based pub tsar Justin Hemmes.
Harvest Hotels was behind the purchase of the Farrer, and director Fraser Haughton said his company had always seen the value in regional pubs.
He said while there has been an increase in activity around the sale of regional watering holes, Mr Haughton noted there had also been an increase in the exposure of purchases.
"From a Harvest point of view, we are regionally focused and always have been," he said.
"The big centres like Wagga, Dubbo, Albury and Tamworth are experiencing strong population growth, there is new infrastructure being built and a lot of money is being spent in these places.
"We look at regional NSW with really bright eyes, and we think the towns are growing, and there is a great future out here."
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark dailyadvertiser.com.au
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters