Mr Ellis, of 2020 Financial Solutions, will rename the hotel the Tura Beach Tavern and has planned a week of celebrations for its proposed mid-July opening.

Mr Ellis said the tavern would be family orientated with good entertainment and top-class food.

“We want to give people in the local area another quality family venue with good entertainment and food,” he said.

“The position of the tavern is ideally suited and we can certainly make a real go of the hotel and turn it into something special that will benefit the whole community.

“It was a shame to see the building just sitting there, so we decided to take it over and bring it back to life.”

The Chook and the Ox closed on Monday, July 28, 2008.

Licensee Dave Wood said poor clientele and the fact the tavern was gaming machine free attributed to its closure.

Mr Wood said people were more inclined to frequent the Tura Beach Country Club as it offered poker machines.

Mr Ellis said the new facility would offer gaming facilities.

“We will be installing poker machines, but the main emphasis will be to create a fun environment for patrons with plenty of entertainment and food,” he said.

“We will have a big week of celebration when the doors open; it’s going to be a big week.”

The tavern was first opened on December 13, 2006.