And in a move that could raise a few eyebrows, the new owners have said the pub’s eye-catching blue exterior could remain untouched.

The Hopetoun Hotel, on the corner of Mitchell and Wills streets, has sat empty for the past three years, with potential buyers scared off by its size and cost.

Vendor and agent Andrew Johnston said he was pleased to now be negotiating the sale to what he sees as a “well researched and well run company”.

But Mr Johnston said he would not disclose the sale price, at the request of the buyers.

Lazy Moe’s is a Melbourne-based restaurant chain that has recently started expanding to regional Victoria.

Executive assistant Michelle Johnson said the restaurant had opened in Ballarat at the end of last year and planned to be up and running in Bendigo by January next year.

“It’s just such a big area now and there’s not much like it in Bendigo,” Ms Johnson said of the move.

She said Lazy Moe’s owners had looked at several properties in Bendigo but chose the Hopetoun Hotel because of its “beautiful size and great location”.

Council applications have yet to be submitted but only internal renovations are planned, Ms Johnson said.

She said the bar would be retained for a more “pubby” feel than the other Lazy Moes restaurants.

“We will be keeping it as it is,” she said.

“The outside won’t be touched.

“The owners loved the look of it and they won’t be changing it because it’s a part of Bendigo.”

Lazy Moes will be the second licensed restaurant chain to open in Bendigo in recent times, with Groove Train moving into the Bendigo Marketplace in December last year.

Ms Johnson said she was confident the Lazy Moes brand of food would be a hit.

“It’s all different cultures so you can get all different varieties of food, and the meals are just huge,” she said.

“There’s something for everyone, gluten free, vegetarian, everyone’s happy.”