As they closed the doors for the last time on Tuesday, it was a sad but memorable occasion for Corryong Hotel Motel publicans Wendy Kirley and Peter ‘Pockets’ Kasuba.

The couple had a rocky start to their venture, taking over the lease of the ‘Bottom Pub’ in September 2020 during the pandemic restrictions but they have since developed the business and clientele.

“Running a hotel that was the first building in Corryong is definitely a time of your life to remember,” Wendy said.

“With up to 20 staff in the busiest times of the year it has been an enjoyable but at times tough gig but we have loved every minute of being publicans in the beautiful township of Corryong.

“Keeping the hard workers and training staff was always a challenge but once you achieve this it makes the running process a whole lot easier with a team you can trust,” Wendy said.

The cornerstone of their success has been serving consistently good food with a changing specials board which keeps the patrons happy.

“It’s always great to have a good chat with customers from behind the bar too,” Pockets added.

Providing live music including Wendy’s popular karaoke nights has also been a huge hit with locals.

The couple have also been great supporters of local charity appeals, particularly for brain cancer research.

“We would like to thank everyone who has supported our business in any way and we would especially like to thank the wonderful staff we have had over the years,” Wendy said.

This article appeared in Corryong Courier, 28 August 2025.