After closing when the COVID-19 restrictions were enforced in late March, The Greta Tattersalls Hotel (Tatts) has reopened and is by all accounts better than ever before.
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"Bring the locals back and make it a community centre like it used to be in the good old days," new licensee Patrick Macindoe said.
"It's getting there. I've seen more people show up and I'm trying to create that family friendly, positive atmosphere for all the locals."
Owner Margaret Bancroft has appointed 19-year-old Patrick Macindoe the new licensee and manager. Growing up as a Branxton local and working at the venue for a number of years, Macindoe said he jumped at the opportunity.
"When the old licensee left, Margaret needed someone to step up to the place that had previous experience.
"Working there already, she knew me and knew I had management skills, so when she asked me to be a manager, I said 'yes'.
"I've done all the courses and am now running the place inside and out."
Established in 1892, the venue is not your typical pub, offering more than just a drink with hairdresser A Little Off The Top Greta and Tuk Tuk Thai and Australian restaurant inhouse.
"We have exquisite cuisine Thai and Australian from a renowned Thai chef," Macindoe said.
"It's a whole licenced premises so when you're getting your haircut, you can have a beer!"
Taking advantage of the COVID-19 closure, full renovations have been underway, with the new bar being the first of many updates.
The venue reopened on the September 26, but the renovations haven't ceased with Bancroft saying as soon as they finish work downstairs, they will begin rejuvenating up stairs.
"It's a work in progress still with the improvements."
Bancroft said, as many people doing renovations have experienced, it has been "one thing after another", but it will be better than ever once completed.
"What held us up for two months was the floor in the bar," she said.
"The person who came to lay the vinyl started taking up the old vinyl, only to find there was no floor underneath.
"So, we had to replace the whole floor."
The team are very impressed with the outcome of their new bar, describing it as a touch of "modern luxury with historic aspects".
With the theme of the year being to support locals, they are hoping people will get behind the venue, and make it a popular meeting place.
They have introduced meat raffles on Thursdays and Sundays, and offer an entire room dedicated to special events or functions. The venue is encouraging all to visit, and enjoy the new and improved atmosphere.
"It's a really big thing in 2020 to support local," Macindoe said.
"We just hope that for now, it becomes the most popular meeting
