STEPHANIE THOMPSON
THE next stage of Loxton Hotel’s highly-anticipated renovations are on track for completion later this year.
Works to a sports bar and another dining area to complement the new bistro have begun following the demolition of the old sports bar and storage room.
Loxton Hotel manager Darren Morrison said he expects the next stage to be “even better” than the first, which included the new 1908 Café, gaming and bistro areas.
“I think it will have a bigger impact,” he said.
“The new spaces will give more opportunities for different things.”
Mr Morrison said the new dining area would supplement the initial dining area, which was opened last year.
“There will be two open fires and some booth-type areas,” he said.
“The space will offer everything from having dinner, to going there for drinks.
“Groups of 20 will be able to go in there and have their birthday parties and later on, that will feed into Pflaum Terrace.”
Meanwhile, Mr Morrison said he was looking forward to locals enjoying the new sports bar.
“That will be a good area to come and have a punt, have a few drinks and watch the footy or the cricket, and all of that sort of stuff,” he said.
Mr Morrison said the hotel staff and board were “rapt” with the success of stage one of the renovations.
“The trade over Christmas time was just incredible and how much it grew this year versus previous years,” he said.
Riverland business, Michael Kregar Building, is undertaking the works and Mr Morrison said using local trades was pivotal.
With the hotel being a building site for the past few years, Mr Morrison thanked locals for their patience and support.
“It’s quite awkward at the minute to get into the hotel,” he said.
“But once completed, it will definitely open up and be much easier for people to get in.”
Loxton Hotel chairman Wendy Mudge said being able to embark on stage two of the renovations during difficult COVID trading conditions was a testament to the hotel’s management and staff.
“Darren Morrison and his team worked tirelessly to ensure that we were able to keep our staff attached to the hotel, adjusting operations continuously to cope with the unpredictable circumstances,” she said.
“Thus it has been possible to trade through the worst times and, with the confidence of the board and support from our financiers, to embark on stage two of our major renovations project.
“It goes without saying that we are also extremely grateful to our loyal Loxton and wider Riverland communities for their support during those difficult trading times.”