Meet the new owners: Rhys Bearman and Jacqui Scriven’s plans for Stockyard Tavern

Many people dream of buying a pub, and one Queensland couple has made that a reality in the Southern Downs. Here’s what sets their new venture apart from the rest, and what they have planned for the future.

Rhys Bearman and Jacqui Scriven are the proud new owners of the Stockyard Tavern in Warwick.

A Queensland couple has revealed why they followed many people’s dreams of owning their own pub, and what they have in store for the venue.

Rhys Bearman and Jacqui Scriven bought the Stockyard Tavern, a traditional country pub, in July and are excited to show off their famous food and comfortable vibes.

The couple say they made the move from the Somerset region to the Southern Downs for an “opportunity they couldn’t pass up on” – owning a drinking hole entirely their own.

“We could see a lot of potential in the pub and the people of Warwick and we’re excited to try out some of our ideas for the pub,” Ms Scriven said.

Queensland couple Jacqui and Rhys bought Warwick's Stockyard Tavern and have big plans for its future (Photo: Facebook/ Warwick Lifestyle Property)

“We’re excited about owning it because it’s ours, we’re keen to make it warm with character and the opportunity is so exciting,” Mr Bearman said.

The pair formerly ran the Harlan Hotel for five years, situated in a small town of only 11 residences, a service and a school, but frequently saw hundreds travelling from afar to the spot weekly.

“Our customers were disappointed that we left, the school put on a morning tea for us and both us and the kids cried. It was a bit overwhelming, but the opportunity to buy the pub was too exciting,” Mr Bearman said.

“We want people to come in and feel like they’ve come home, we want the whole family to come, it’s a community pub for the community.

“We think what will bring people in is our food, too, it’s country, it’s big, it’s wholesome and it’s well priced.”

The Stockyard Tavern boasts “country style” food – big portions, freshly made, done well and worth driving hours for.

“We don’t put garnish on our plate because who eats it? We’re not the type of pub that puts prawns on a plate with tweezers as it gets cold. Our big niche that we do really well is that if 20 people come in, 20 people will get fed at the same time,” he said.

Mr Bearman said while at Harlan, punters had travelled from as far as Gladstone in Central Queensland “just because they wanted a steak”.

“People will go home full, satisfied and happy,” he said.

“During our last week at Harlan, two people jumped up from the table and screamed when we told them we were moving to Warwick, because they would travel up to see us and now they had us so close, it was like they won the lotto,” Ms Scriven said.

“We’re keeping it country.”

While the pair say running a business as a couple can have a few challenges, they wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It gets testing and you can get nasty at each other, living and working with each other can be tough, but saying that we’ve been through Covid and started off with no customers and we got through it,” Mr Bearman said.

“Most couples likely couldn’t stand it, but at the end of the day we’ve got a goal and a picture in our head and we work well as a team,” Ms Scriven said.

Over the next six months the pair plan to create more atmosphere through introducing live music, as well in as bring in decorations and furnishings and consulting punters on what they want to see from their local.

You can visit Jacqui and Rhys at the Stockyard Wednesday through Sunday, and stay up to date with them via Facebook.

Originally published as Meet the new owners: Rhys Bearman and Jacqui Scriven’s plans for Stockyard Tavern