The new owners of a rural Otago pub are not horsing around when it comes to the importance of having a thriving local watering hole. Donna Hall and Jim McDougall bought the Strath Taieri Hotel in August and next month will host the finale of the Goldfields Cavalcade as 400 riders converge on Middlemarch. Ms Hall and Mr McDougall bought the pub, building and all, outright in August 2025, and say they have never looked back. "The Middlemarch community is amazing — they support the pub and the pub supports the community groups, so it just works really well." It has been estimated it would be the biggest event in the town since the Middlemarch Singles Ball 25 years ago.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 16, 2026 16:28 UTC