There has been an overwhelming outpouring of love and well wishes for popular and much loved Largs hotel owners Vicki and Bruce Woods who have sold up and will leave the business after 30 years.
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The couple will pour their last beers at Bushrangers Bar and Brasserie in mid-June when new owners, The McCoy family, take over.
The McCoy family are no strangers to Maitland pubs, once owning East Maitland's Bank Hotel. They also had the Bennett in Hamilton and currently own the Tudor Hotel, Woodberry.
Vicki and Bruce are currently on holidays in Western Australia. The pub's General Manager Dylan Brooks said the couple will be sadly missed.
He said that there was an overwhelming response to a Facebook post on Thursday telling patrons the couple will soon leave.
"The comments reflect their time in the pub and involvement in the community," he said.
The comments reflect their time in the pub and involvement in the community.
- Bushrangers Bar and Brasserie General Manager Dylan Brooks
Vicki and Bruce have not indicated what they plan post bar work is but their Facebook message read: "So after 30 years Vicki and Bruce are hanging up the keys and saying Goodbye to the Bushrangers. It has been an amazing journey full of highs, fun, laughter, accolades, achievements, great memories, good friends, fabulous food, wonderful wines but most of all it's been the people. The hotel has been a big part of our lives, but it's onto new adventures."
Member for Maitland Jenny Aitchison was one of the first to comment saying: "What an amazing time it's been for you both. You have done such great things for Largs and for the wider Hunter community and I can't wait to see what you both do with all that extra time on your hands."
Many comments from friends and patrons said the hotel will not be the same without Vicki and Bruce. Others described the couple as inspirational, great mentors, thoughtful and generous people.
The Woods' community involvement spread much wider than the village of Largs. Vicki was a former Maitland councillor and Bruce former president of the Australian Hotels Association Newcastle Hunter Sub-branch for 20 years.