So when the tavern was named as a finalist in the best country hotel in Hospitality New Zealand's excellence awards, publican Lesley Middlemass was ''absolutely stoked'' for the community.
''It's a real privilege to even be in the top three ... it's not just about a pub, it's about a community,'' Mrs Middlemass said.
The tavern is the only Otago finalist in the awards and the only South Island finalist for best country hotel.
Established in 1886, it was originally built to replace the Three Horse Shoes hotel after it had burnt down. The Middlemass family purchased the tavern on Christmas Day, 1999.
Asked the secret to the tavern's success, Mrs Middlemass attributed it to ''the best staff ever'' and a good community.
''Really, I don't think you can ask for more than that in life,'' she said.
She did not think there had ever been a day when she regretted the purchase.
''As long as you're happy and bounce out of bed every day and you're happy doing it, you can do anything in life.''
There was always something going on at the tavern, whether it was euchre, an irrigation meeting or the knitting club gathering.
The advent of the Otago Central Rail Trail had a ''huge impact'' on the business and enabled her to put on a new dining room and a new roof.
Asked about her future, Mrs Middlemass said she was ''not going anywhere''.
''I'm quite happy with what I'm doing.''
She did have some plans for the hotel - ''You've always got to have a purpose to get up for, another goal and vision to head for,'' she said.
Among the other southern finalists in the awards are Fiordland Lodge, Te Anau (best restaurant, best accommodation hotel), the Batch Cafe, Invercargill (best cafe, excellence in training and staff development), and Ascot Park Hotel, Invercargill (best environmental, sustainable and ethical practice).
Entrants were judged by a panel of independent industry professionals who assessed every competitor on a range of commercial and operational criteria including staff training and human resources, customer service, marketing and promotional activities, and the demonstration of business growth.
