Masterton's Castlepoint Hotel reopens with fresh management and new dining hours

The Castlepoint Hotel in Masterton has welcomed guests again after months of closure. The historic venue shut its doors in mid-February but has now reopened under fresh management. A new operator has taken over the lease, bringing changes to its services and offerings.

The hotel's revival comes with a revised dining schedule. On Fridays, only dinner will be served. Saturdays will feature both breakfast and dinner, while Sundays offer breakfast and lunch. Patrons can enjoy meals, though alcohol remains unavailable for now as the new licence is still being processed.

Non-alcoholic drinks are on the menu in the meantime. The transition marks a clean break from the previous licence holder, Fireballs Imports Ltd. Its former director, Jason Osborne, publicly extended his good wishes to the incoming team. The new operators have yet to confirm when alcohol sales will resume. No recent data exists on how quickly similar licences are approved or denied in the Wellington region by the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority.

The Castlepoint Hotel's return gives locals and visitors a renewed dining option in Masterton. With a phased food service and pending alcohol licence, the venue is gradually resuming full operations. The community now waits to see how the changes unfold under the new management.