The Highlander Bar and Bistro, on the corner of Doveton and Mair streets, promises a traditional pub experience as soon as restrictions allow, in fully transformed indoor spaces.

Owner Chris Molloy said she was excited to finally show off the interiors, which feature recycled industrial furniture and a comfortable feeling.

She bought the hotel in March, just weeks before the coronavirus began causing major issues for businesses.

While the plan was initially to close for six weeks for a renovation, that stretched into six months.

"The positive brain says it's all going to be fine, you have to, because I needed to renovate anyway," she said.

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"It's a hard decision because you're taking more risk when you're not getting any income - when the second lockdown was announced, just before that we were planning on reopening.

"It was just a really big shock, we didn't think we were going to get a second lockdown (which) hurt a lot more than the first, but I think we dealt with it just as well.

"It's hard on the staff, but I'm lucky because I've had a lot of my staff with me, and we've had projects to keep busy."

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Ms Molloy promised the menu would be full of pub classics, but her team will use some of the techniques picked up at her other pub, Creswick's Farmers Arms.

"We'll have a massive focus on food, local produce, inhouse butchery, cured charcuterie - we're going to step up from the Farmers," she said.

There's also good news for whisky enthusiasts.

"Because we're called The Highlander, we're going to focus on whiskies," Ms Molloy said.

"I love whiskies, so we'll probably have at least 50 or 100 whiskies, that'll be a treat for people interested in whiskies."

Ms Molloy's pick is a 12-year-old Talisker - she also mentioned the possibility of matched food and whisky tastings.

The pub is the latest big change on the Mair Street strip opposite GovHub, which is expected to open early next year.

"This whole area's becoming a Mecca - you've got the brewery opening, Raggazone, and then of course Mitchell Harris, I think if we all work together we'll be able to share it all," Ms Molloy said.

Doors will open for the first time on October 1, but Ms Molloy said the entire place was already fully booked out - a promising start, she said, though there will be more to reveal.

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"We've started renovating the shops next door, that'll be a surprise, and hopefully that will open in four or five weeks," she said.

"I'm looking forward to being part of Ballarat and this precinct we've got here - I just can't wait to be open, I cannot wait.

"It's been a rough start to 2020 for all of us, but we've made it into a positive."

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