RUNNING a pub has had its ups and downs for Mick Finch, but it's the people he'll miss most when he finishes up at Greta's Tattersalls Hotel at the end of the month.
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"Like any pub, you've got your good and bad," he said.
"We're not serving milkshakes here.
"But we've met a lot of different people, made some really nice friends."
The well-known identity and former Maitland Picker will hand over the reins on May 29 after two and a half years at the 128-year-old hotel.
The pub had been shut for several months before Mr Finch and his wife Sharon took it over in 2016.
The former publican walked out on the lease, leaving the Greta community pub-less.
"A lot of people lost their pub for a period of time through no fault of their own," Mr Finch said.
"They're a loyal mob people from Greta. You look after them and they'll look after you."
But Mr Finch said this won't be goodbye forever.
"It was always going to be a short-term stay," he said.
"We're getting older and the opportunity to sell it came up at the right time.
"We'll most definitely stop in for a visit. Our home is in East Maitland so we're not that far away."
It was the couple's first time running a pub, but they came into the business prepared for the challenges it would bring.
"We knew it was going to be hard work and long hours," Mr Finch said.
"It's a seven day a week job and sometimes it's 12 to 16 hours a day. You're not just running the pub and bar, it's the accommodation and cleaning.
"It was never in my wife's plan but I kind of twisted her arm. And she's done an amazing job. She really doesn't recognise the contribution she has had."
Mr Finch said he hoped to have as many people as possible in for a drink before May 29, especially as the mid-week and Sunday raffles have jack-potted to $4000 and $2000 respectively.
"I hope it's a local person who wins it," he said.
The locals should also be happy as Mr Finch said the new owners have stressed they don't want to change too much when they take over.