Horsham businessman Gary Jelly and partner Wendy O'Connor took on the challenge when they bought the Wilson Street hotel in October.

Mr Jelly said the hotel had undergone a 'face-lift' in the months since.

He said changes included new paint, a new sports bar, new fridges and a new beer system.

The hotel's popular function room has also changed.

It boasts a larger stage, a bigger dance floor and a garden between it and the toilets.

Mr Jelly said the kitchen was about four weeks away from completion.

Future plans include a coffee room and a children's area.

Mr Jelly said the launch started at 11am and ran until 3am.

He said he had received a great response from people ahead of the launch.

"I only put it on Facebook the other day and it's had a lot of hits," he said.

"We're absolutely thrilled with the amount of gossip going around town."

Mr Jelly said bands were a feature of the weekend, with different acts performing.

"It's an opportunity for people to come in and have a look and have a good time," he said.

Mr Jelly said he hoped to host bands about once a month.

Mr Jelly said he and Ms O'Connor had so far hired about 22 people to work at the hotel.

He said the future direction of the hotel would depend on the support it received.

"We can get 300 patrons in the pub and that's what we're hoping for,'' he said.

He said the hotel would open seven days a week at this stage.

Mr Jelly started his first business, Wimmera Outdoors, in 1990.

Since then, the business has become an umbrella for two other businesses Surf One and Sports Power.

Mr Jelly said with his latest venture, he now employed about 30 people.

He also hired all Wimmera people to work on the business during its face-lift.

"I'm very proud of that," he said.

Mr Jelly encouraged people to check out the hotel.

"We've kept a lot of the oldness but made it very modern as well,'' he said.

"It's new and different.''