"We've got three beaches, two towns, a beautiful fishing river, there's just everything one could want, it's a great lifestyle," Rhonda said.
From neighbourhood watch meetings, to fundraisers to work functions, the tight-knit staff members work around the clock to accommodate the needs of the Elsthorpe community.
"We've had to learn to adapt to what the community people wants. Some people say 'well you're a pub, so why aren't you open at 9pm?' Well if there's no one here, we go home. We are a pub, but we're not 'that pub'.
"We usually run from 11am until 8, but we do the late nights too depending on the day."
The family element is obvious when you walk into the historic building.
"Never in a million years did I think I'd see a dad sitting on the couch reading his kid a book in here," Aaron said.
"It's just a great place for families to come and chill out and that's pretty much what we were aiming to achieve."
While Rhonda was experienced in hospitality, Aaron was completely thrown into it.
"Didn't even know how to run a till mate."
If the kids aren't joining in watching an All Blacks game, you'll most likely find them outside on the trampoline or on the swings, others prefer to sit quietly in the corner reading books or enjoying the toys.
The walls are covered with school photos, signs from neighbouring farms and various other rural memorabilia. The grand duke box blasts away in the corner and flowers from locals up the road sit brightly in vases on tables.
"We just wanted to get it back to being a hub for the community. Like every Friday you'll get all the farmers in here catching up.
"If you put it on for people then they'll come. If you put a play area in, a decent menu and a smile on your face they'll turn up."
Perceptions of long distance are changing with clientele travelling from as far as Napier to spend an evening at the tavern.
"We get a lot of people from Napier, Waipawa, Waipukurau - some who say they've never been here before."
The tavern has its own history and fair share of stories from the mystery bullet hole in the window pane to a man riding his horse inside.
"I was driving along the mad mile and get a call from Rhonda asking me where I was because there was a horse in the pub. A local guy brought him inside, did a lap, then someone else jumped on and then fell off, Fooie was nutting off.
"The bullet hole isn't here any more. A truck drove past and cracked the window so I had to replace the pane. I think it was actually a stone from a mower that caused the hole in the window, but the bullet was a good talking point."
From the Ranfurly Shield popping by, to Mick Duncan, Willie Apiata and even Greg Murphy, the Bartletts have brought the tavern to life and say they will continue their venture, even as other pubs like the Sawyers Arms in Tikokino go up for sale.
"We've just happy to be in this part of the world, it's a great community and we wouldn't be anywhere else."
