Bulls Head

Scott and Donna moved to New Zealand from England seven years ago, on March 1st, 2018. Their first visit to New Zealand was during the Rugby World Cup in 2011, followed by another trip in 2017 to cheer on the Lions Rugby Team. It was during this visit that they explored The Mount and decided that this would be the place they would call their new home.

Since then, New Zealand has since provided their family with a new way of life - a haven away from the rest of the world and a safe place for their grandchildren to grow up in. But like any Englishman living in New Zealand comes a longing for the good old days enjoying a good old pub.

Fast forward to earlier this year, when Scott and Donna both visited Fieldays where they stumbled across My Little Pub and fell in love. It didn’t take too long to decide that it was exactly what they didn’t know they needed.

When they told their son about their purchase, he thought they were bonkers. But Scott confidently assured him that he was going to have many more “happy hours” in his Little Pub than he would behind the wheel of a new car. (We hear that since the pub has arrived, whenever their son calls around he goes straight for the pub keys and parks himself inside. Not so bonkers after all it seems!)

Having owned the Bulls Head pub in England for four years, Scott and Donna knew their way around a pub and as such had many great ideas to implement. They loved the traditional look of the Little Irish Pub but of course it would need to be English themed. The colours on the exterior were inspired by the Leicester Tigers rugby team, with the green, red and white theme also carried inside to the interior walls, tartans, cushions, leathers. Of course, the English red rose became a key motif, seamlessly integrated through the red rose tiles, window designs, carved stools and most importantly the stunning red rose stained-glass windows which Scott had a hand in designing.

It has been mentioned - and you might have guessed it yourself - that Scott and Donna are avid sports enthusiasts. When we first started putting together ideas for their Little Pub we were sent photos and videos of their incredible collection of sports memorabilia. This included signed Football World Cup photos from the 60s, English, British Lions, All Blacks & Manchester United signed players jerseys, photos with Leicester Tigers players, signed boxing gloves, a signed England cricket bat and many many more amazing items. When deciding which pieces would feature in the pub, it was crucial that the first jersey you saw any English team memorabilia - before any All Blacks jerseys. After all, while they now live in New Zealand, England still comes first. Or does it?

What we loved most about working with Scott and Donna was their undeniable passion for what was being created. Every detail was a purposeful decision; drawing on their experience and knowledge as pub owners to ensure they were designing the most hospitable space possible for their friends and family. Their hospitality was on full display at the Bulls Head’s grand opening on the 1st of November, when over 70 people came to celebrate. With many more family gatherings and celebrations planned, it’s safe to say this Little Pub has already become a very popular gathering place. Not to tell tales but we’ve heard they can count on one hand the number of times they haven’t been in the pub since it arrived. Sounds like many happy hours indeed!

We really could tell many more stories on how much fun we had collaborating with Scott and Donna, but the proof is in the pudding. From the first twinkle in the eye, through the countless excited messages, to the final delivery, every moment was a joy. For us at My Little Pub, knowing that this family and their Little Pub will be at the heart of so many wonderful memories reminds us of why we do what we do. For that, we extend our utmost gratitude to Scott, Donna, and their wider family.

And how lucky is their grandson, who’s already called dibs on the pub with a cheeky “When you've finished with it, I want it!”