couple Craig and Prue Lambert.

The pair will reopen the Albion Hotel as a pub after they complete extensive refurbishment including

laying new carpet and painting the interior.

They are hopeful the hotel will open its doors before the end of the year, with the

dining room to reopen by the end of November, all going well.

Mr Lambert, a qualified chef, will run the kitchen, while Mrs Lambert will be the licensee.

The dining room will be run as an a-la-carte restaurant with traditional pub-style meals, according to Mr Lambert.

The couple, who also own Bethungra Fuels, will add a bottle shop to the hotel, under the ‘Liquor Legends’ licence.

Mr Lambert said he is keen to create a family friendly atmosphere within the hotel.

After some work to clean the rooms, they will reopen the hotel’s 21 rooms, each with an ensuite, adding to the accommodation available in Cootamundra.

Busy weekends in town often see accommodation booked out, therefore it is considered that another accommodation venue adding to the availability of lodging locally is a bonus to Cootamundra.

Mrs Lambert said taking on the hotel is a “new

challenge”.

They will live on the

premises with their three children.

Mr and Mrs Lambert have been looking at the hotel for a number of months, and have spent the past four months in negotiations to purchase the property.

The property was sold by Gilchrist Business Brokers, who specialise in buying and selling hotels, pubs and

taverns.

Murray Gilchrist, the

proprietor of Gilchrist Business Brokers, said a number of people registered their interest in the property and more than one offer was made.