In a further affirmation of investor interest in Narrabri, Woolworths has bought the iconic, 108-year-old Tattersalls Hotel in Maitland Street.

Owners Michael Chappell and Megen McLean confirmed the sale following the final ‘sign off’ of the transaction.

The Chappells have operated the Tattersalls for two-and-a-half years.

“We have had a great time living in this great community,” said Mr Chappell.

“But it was time to move on. We have family and kids on the coast and decided now was the time.”

Mr Chappell, latterly from Oberon and originally from Armidale, added that the couple had ‘looked all over NSW’ when seeking a hotel business and had settled on Narrabri as the premier spot.

“No one we spoke to had a bad word to say about Narrabri and Mudgee,” he said.

“They were the two towns that really stood out.”

The official handover of the hotel to the new owners, Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group, (now the Endeavour Group), will take place on November 16.

Woolworths is an 85.4 per cent shareholder of Endeavour Group which has 52 hotels in NSW.

The drive-through bottleshop at The Tatts will be rebadged as BWS.

NSW operations manager for ALH Group, Rob Courtney said the company was impressed with Narrabri.

“We absolutely see Narrabri as a growth centre with potential.

“I will be back in Narrabri on November 16 with the new licensee Rob Edge,” said Mr Courtney.

“We will be looking to get involved in the community as we do with all our pubs.”

The acquisition of the Tattersalls Hotel by the Woolworths owned ALH Group signals another chapter in the history of Narrabri’s oldest hotel.

The most significant change to the pub, in the near term at least, will be the rebadging of the bottleshop to become a BWS – Beer, Wine and Spirits outlet – the national chain.

“At this stage we are not looking to change too much,” ALH NSW operations manager Rob Courtney said.

“It’s a great business Mick and Megen have got, so we are not looking to change much first up except to rebrand the bottle shop as BWS.”

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