The couple who own The George Tavern at Green Hills, have raised record amounts of money for charities, individuals in need and sporting organisations across the city and the accolades they have received for their business over their 20 years at the helm are immeasurable.

But more recently Dan and Janine notched up a new record - the sale of The George for a record breaking sum that local hotel broker Deane Moore, confirmed was "the highest price paid for a hotel in the Newcastle/Hunter region to date."

The pub was sold to Thomas Hotels, a group that owns several Sydney pubs and The Premier at Broadmeadow, for an undisclosed sum.

Dan and Janine will hand over the keys next week in what's sure to be an emotional meeting.

"This is a bittersweet but necessary move," Janine said. "The place has been more than a business to us. It's been part of our family and many of the team here feel like our children.

"This hotel has changed our lives and we would like to think the community support we've been able to provide has also had a positive impact on the lives of the people around us," she said.

The catalyst for the sale came in October when Dan suffered some health issues. "He is on the mend but this has taken both of us out of our work life, to focus on Dan's recovery," Janine said.

"Sitting in hospital rooms and doctors' waiting rooms gives you plenty of time to think. We've certainly done a lot of that. Our work life has been a massive focus for many years. It's time to change that focus onto us.

"Over the past six months we've not been able to give the pub and our wonderful team the attention they deserve. It's time to pass the baton onto another group that can. We believe the Thomas Hotel Group are the perfect fit."

Dan and Janine said moving forward their plan is not to work so hard. "We want to step back a little and smell the roses and hopefully do some travel. We still have other business interests that we'll be working on."

Asked what some of the biggest highlights have been for them over the past two decades Janine said there were many but the two that stick in her mind the most are Punchy's 2016 Car Park Party and winning the 2012 NSW AHA Country Hotel of the Year.

Dom Punch was injured in a rugby accident in 2015. The George staff organised the car park party which attracted 800 locals to raise money for Dom and help him with his recovery.

Lots of blood, sweat, tears and sleepless nights were the prelude to The George winning Country Hotel of the Year. "It had been a dream of ours since arriving at the hotel to win this award," Janine said. "Our management team and kids were there on the night to share this experience. We were all so proud and that night will be one that we will talk about for a long time."