An Alexandra group has leased the Otago Central Hotel at Hyde.
Owner Ngaire Sutherland listed the hotel and Hyde School function centre for sale last year and after it failed to sell, Alexandra accountant Hugh McIntyre, lawyer Russell Checketts and businessman Neville Grubb took a lease on the premises on February 4.
''Ngaire had been trying to sell it and we wanted to make sure it was going to hang around, so we made an offer to lease it,'' Mr McIntyre said.
''It's a key part of the rail trail and we all like the place, so it was an opportunity to do something and we'll see how it goes.
''It's being run by local people and we hope we can maintain that group of people. It's way in the middle of nowhere, so you rely on that local help. It will still be closed between June and September, apart from the odd function.''
Mrs Sutherland (70) bought the hotel in 2003 and the former Hyde School in 2008. She spent an estimated $2 million renovating the buildings, with the help of local residents, transforming them into a 16-bed hotel and cafe popular with Otago Central Rail Trail riders.
''I absolutely love Hyde and I'm grateful they're carrying it on,'' she said.
