Arrowtown couple Kerry and Rob Andrews and Auckland publican Paul Lomax have bought the lease of the 152-year-old New Orleans Hotel from Christchurch-based Peter Whittaker and will take over on Monday.
Mr Whittaker's business incurred six breaches of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act since he took over in 2011.
Three involved selling alcohol to minors, the latest causing Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority Judge Kevin Kelly, recently, to dub New Orleans a ``problem premises''.
Mrs Andrews said she and her husband wanted to ``put a lot of time and love into it because I don't think it's seen any love for a while, bless it''.
``I don't know any families that would go in there and go for dinner - we want to change that reputation so that everyone feels welcome, step up the food menu and change it all up.''
She said they were planning major structural changes which, at the earliest, would take place after winter.
The pair would like to see the New Orleans become ``a good Kiwi sports bar'' with a family-friendly environment and were considering a name change for the upstairs bar/restaurant.
Mrs Andrews said their friend Mr Lomax, who owned Auckland CBD bar/restaurant Pilkingtons, ``was looking at purchasing something down here, he wanted to involve some locals, and we were looking for a change''.
Mr Whittaker said the only reason for selling was because he was busy running three Christchurch bars, and also had young family there.
Told the new owners wanted to lift the New Orleans' reputation, he said: ``We have a good reputation with all our locals there - we run a reasonably busy pub, it goes reasonably well.''
He denied its reputation had been sullied by the bar's licensing ordeals, which had resulted in at least three suspensions of trading.
The only time an underage person had ever been found on the premises was when the police carried out controlled purchase operations and sent in young people ``that look like experienced drinkers'', he said.
After the last such operation, in September, Judge Kelly imposed what Mr Whittaker described as ``an absolutely draconian'' 10-day suspension, which he appealed.
Mr Whittaker intended to continue the appeal in the High Court ``in the interests of justice''. - Mountain Scene
