Pub at the heart of the community was thriving
A PUB should always have its heart in the community, and landlord Neil Hawkes stood by this motto.
After always wanting to run his own pub, it was in 1991 that he landed the job as landlord of the Copper Hearth in Stapenhill.
The pub had a dominating presence on Stanton Road, its beer was among the best in Burton and its atmosphere was always warm and friendly.
The locals loved it, but Yorkshireborn Neil and his partner Elaine were not satisfied. They wanted to make the pub even better.
Speaking in March 1993, Neil said: “We care so much we have had a professional move in to live with us for the past two to three weeks to help us improve the whole operation to make it the best place possible for our customers. We have been looking at several different ways we can make the pub an enjoyable place for everyone.
“A pub should be the centre of the local community – a meeting place, a focal point.”
Regulars said Neil and Elaine were more than 90 per cent of the way there already.
Neil said: “We try and cater for almost everybody”.
The 32-year-old initially trained as a chef, but found his true vocation behind the restaurant bar.
Always striving to improve the venue, a new children’s area with benches, tables and video games was set to open by Easter 1993.
Regulars ran pool, darts, crib, domino and three football teams, while on Saturday and Sunday evenings there was a singalong with Ted at the organ.
Neil said he looked on the pub as an entertainment centre for the community as people wanted value for money, live entertainment and good beer.
The Copper Hearth was a Bass pub with Marston’s Pedigree as the guest beer sitting alongside Bass, Worthington Best Bitter and Highgate Mild.
Neil said: “All of the beers are cask conditioned. We do a big enough turnover to warrant it. Cask beer is so much better than keg – it’s natural. We also serve draught Tennants Extra, Tennants LA and Guinness too.
“There is no reason why anyone can’t serve a good pint every time. I never serve anything here that I am not prepared to eat or drink myself.”