The future of an historic Central Otago pub remains unclear after a fire that extensively damaged its kitchen and roof.
Cromwell volunteer fire chief Steve Shaw says that assessors have been trying to determine whether the Bannockburn Hotel, built in 1867, can be salvaged.
The age of the building meant that it had no sprinkler system, he said, and its small ceiling cavity had made access to the fire difficult.
The fire, which began at lunchtime on Friday when a deep fryer ignited in the kitchen area, took almost three hours to extinguish.
Earlier this year the pub's roof was ripped off by a mini-tornado while patrons sat inside.
