Man stabbed in attempted hotel robbery

A man has been stabbed several times during an attempted robbery at a country hotel south-east of Adelaide.

Police say a man wearing a ski mask and armed with a knife allegedly broke into the Terminus Hotel at Strathalbyn at about 3.30am.

A 58-year-old man from the hotel confronted the alleged thief and the two began a struggle, with the man from the hotel then suffering stab wounds and cuts to his arms and shoulder.

The alleged suspect fled empty handed.

The victim was treated at the scene and then taken to the Royal Adelaide hospital in a non-life threatening condition.

CIB detectives from Mt Barker are investigating.