Regional NSW hotel baron Jim Knox has more than tripled his money on a Griffith pub investment after selling it to rising hospitality entrepreneur Trent Middleton for about $30 million.

Mr Knox paid about $8 million in 2019 for the Area Hotel, a two-storey venue on Banna Avenue that includes a beer garden, gaming room with 30 poker machines, 15 pub-style accommodation rooms and a 3am liquor licence.