The iconic pub has been closed for the past three months but is about to come back bigger and better than ever again with resident barber Grant Carter and new licensee Mick Finch.

Long time Maitland resident and former Pickers halfback Mr Finch said the hotel should (fingers crossed) have its unveiling on Tuesday in time for Melbourne Cup.

“We’re just waiting for some paperwork to be cleared by the Office of Liquour, Gaming and Racing then we’ll be set to open,” he said.

Tattersalls Hotel Greta was established in 1892.

Mr Finch said he and three other parties (two from Newcastle and one from Maitland) are now involved with the hotel’s operations.

They are excited about its potential with Huntlee and other residential and commercial developments underway nearby.

“The growth in this area has certainly been a draw card. The price of coal is starting to improve and with that trend business should improve with people returning to the coal industry,” Mr Finch said.

Without a background in pub’s, Mr Finch said he is keen to work with his family to establish the hotel as one of the region’s top watering holes.

“This has been a great pub over the years and the poor people of Greta have been without it for three months while we were changing hands. It should be back up and running for them next week,” he said.

One of the quirky sidelines the hotel has to offer is long time resident barber Grant Carter who leases a room in the front of the hotel for his business.

“He’s been here 26 years and he’s a great bloke and we work well together,” Mr Finch said. “He’s been a great help and has more or less been the caretaker publican for three months.”

Mr Finch said there will be a few changes at the hotel with an emphasis on families.

“We really want to be family focused and we’re planning weekend events and entertainment. We’re also hoping to work closely with sporting organisations and will help them out with sponsorship where possible.”