AFTER several fundraisers, lockdown food deliveries, and a baby girl being born in the pub, it has been an eventful eight years since a former DJ took over the Boars Head.
Back in 2016, the Boars Head was under threat of being demolished before Bravo Inns bought the Elton Head boozer and Alex O'Neill came in to take over as landlord.
In the time that has passed, the pub has passed through various breweries and adapted to several national crises, but with Alex at the helm, it has become a welcoming and charitable business that has not only brought the community together, but has brought out the best of St Helens.
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Although pub regulars can be apprehensive about new landlords coming to their favourite boozer, Alex said that Boars Head customers instantly welcomed and supported his transition into the venue.
In return, Alex has helped to foster an atmosphere where everyone is welcome and familiar with each other at the Boars Head, which has also offered live sports, pub quizzes, and live music to entice people into the Sutton Heath haunt.
And to repay this support and give something back to charities that mean a lot to him and his customers, Alex also turned the pub into a hub of fundraising and togetherness, despite the difficulties that people were facing.
Over the years, there have been countless fundraising events at the Boars Head, from summer parties to charity walks, and pool events to race nights.
Mainly, these events have raised money for Willowbrook Hospice due to a family connection with the charity, but there have also been fundraisers for local food banks, men's mental health charities, and for a defibrillator to be installed on the pub's grounds.
There was also a pizza delivery service to keep their regulars connected during lockdown, while a baby girl was born in the pub after her mum pulled into the car park after unexpectedly going into labour.
Alex, a former club DJ from Burnley, said: "In all the town's I've worked in, I have never known a town so giving.
"For all the different events we have organised there has been such a phenomenal response, even in difficult times.
"Things have been a challenge at times, but this is where I've seen the community really come together."
Despite "falling in love" with the pub back in 2016, and the successful eight years that have followed, Alex will soon be off to pastures new as he will take on a new career in the hospitality industry.
Explaining that he could not have organised all of the pub events and business without his "amazing" staff, the 53-year-old said that he will truly miss the customers and community at the Boars Head.
With a farewell party planned at the Boars Head on April 6, Alex said that whoever takes over as pub landlord has got a "fantastic community" to look after.
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