So, one day, you're on a yacht, somewhere around the globe, not knowing who you'd be working with next, and then five years later, you're absolutely nailing village life, creating experiences for all.

 

When Charlie met Hannah, who would have known, that they were to become a true inspiration to those around them, a duo to be recognised, respected and in some cases feared.

 

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Knowing Charlie for over a decade, watching him and Hannah in their journey at the Hop Pole has been an honour and a privilege. As part of our work with them, in the picturesque village of Limpley Stoke, nestled in a valley between Bradford on Avon & Bath, we grabbed a coffee and had a chat about the now. 

 

During an incredibly rare spare 20 minutes, we had the pleasure of sitting down with this pair to discuss their journey, the dynamics of their partnership, and the vision for the future. The conversation was filled with insights, personal anecdotes (some printable), and valuable lessons that shed light on what makes this power couple truly remarkable.

 

 

Charlie and Hannah first met on a yacht of all places, back in 2019. ‘We got on well from the get go’. However, when you are in middle of the ocean, you only have one choice, and that is to get on, luckily for them!

I don’t think anyone thought that this this initial connection laid the foundation for a partnership that has shaped them both personally and professionally.

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When Charlie talks about how they met, it's clear to see that something struck a cord with him back then and still does.  Hannah came on board as the second in command of the interior team. The boat that we were on had a trip to and around Sydney, and Hannah’s superior had family commitments. This meant that Hannah stepped up and it meant we had to work closely together. In doing so, we quickly realised our potential as a team.

 

Their roles on the boats enabled them to flourish, bond and develop a relationship that has shaped them to the couple they currently are. Working in such close proximity, day in day out, was not easy, and not only were we learning how the other worked, but we were working hard on not pushing the other overboard. From day one, it’s quite clear that their professional lives have always surpassed their personal ones, but it’s definitely been seen recently that they are becoming a lot better at finding some more ‘them time’.

 

So after years of travelling around the globe, co-habiting during a global pandemic; they’ve decided to set up their base a short trip from the farm on which Charlie grew up; where his parents and only brother manage the incredible herd of beef cattle. By being so close to home, they have both been inundated with support from his friends and family, who have welcomed Hannah with open arms. That’s definitely not to say that Hannah’s parents have not done the same as they are definitely as supportive and welcoming towards Charlie as any set of parents would be, and often make the trip from Chelsea to the village to catch up and enjoy the incredible hospitality that these two provide. 

 

 

 

Relocating, setting up a business, employing a workforce and creating a concept all from scratch in a building that was closed for just over eight years before undergoing an extensive refurbishment could never be described as an easy task. It’s an amazing talent that these two have for being able to mostly keep their personal matters to one side while being the full front of the community.
The Hop Pole is a community asset as it was purchased by the members of the village to ensure that they still had a pub to go to. Inevitably this creates a certain amount of pressure on this couple to ensure that this property thrives and to ensure that no matter what is going on with them in their own lives that when they come down from upstairs and they open the door and the lights go on, the smiles are always there; and even when shit really hits the fan it doesn’t matter what time of day you walk in there is always a miss Hannah with the beaming smile greeting you as you walk through the door and you’re always find Charlie in his kitchen.

 

Over the first six months that they’ve been open, they definitely had their fair share of staffing woes, power cuts, water leaks, fire alarms; but somehow every time they put their heads together, they’re full of reassurance for each other and they find positive in any negative situation. They reiterate that two heads are always better than one.

 

It certainly is remarkable to sit back and watch these two in action and it's impressive when things are a bit sticky and hot under the collar to see how they manage to put a pin in any cross situation, walk away and resolve any problem a little later on. This approach certainly ensures that both voices are heard and valued when making important decisions. The decisions of course don’t just affect them, they affect their customers and they affect their staff, all of who have their best interest heart and only want for them to succeed.

 

Not only do they present very well together, but they always are seen to be working to each other strengths and empowering the growth of the other without ‘mansplaining’. They have an enviable amount of trust in each other and that has worked extremely well in ensuring that they blossom as their trust is in each other and isn’t rushed in putting it in others which encapsulates the constant values within their partnership.

 

 

Living and working in a pub doesn’t give you that much free time however in order to ensure they continue to smash away local competition as has been recently seen in the fantastic win in the Muddy Stilettos category of Best Destination Pub, within their first six months of opening, which alone was not an easy task. They do find the time to slip away, check out the competition, keep the inspiration flowing and spend quality time with their precious spaniel Bonnie. These moments of relaxation are cherished completely although those moments might not occur as often as hoped; it does ensure that this couple stay grounded and perfectly connected.

 

 

Looking at how they compliment each other, it’s certainly fantastic to see that they both have a unique set of skills; but what they share is their mutual love for all things hospitality, and that’s certainly something that laid their foundations. Hannah is the brains behind the admin, the customer service, the marketing, the IT; whereas Charlie is very content in his comfort zones of the kitchen, the garden and sometimes, with a drill.

 

It’s along these lines that they’re able to tackle the subject of delegation, its clear for anyone to see that they’re very good at delegating responsibilities and they know that they both have individual strengths that should be leaned on - it’s wonderful to see that they trust each other's expertise.

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Seeing their individual strengths which have been matched nicely with one another and passed on to their team around them, shows as tow why they get some many reviews such as; 

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*Lovely greeting when we arrived and the food and beer were great. Service was fab, happy and bubbly really engaging with the customers*

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*Lovely welcome to this newly reopened Community pub. Staff were friendly, enthusiastic, and efficient. Food was excellent, tasty and substantial!*

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*Beers were all great, staff friendly, calm and attentive. We booked for Sunday lunch and could only get a 4pm spot. We expected food to be good but the roast was truly exceptional. Locally sourced beef sirloin was perfectly cooked and tender beyond belief.*

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With regards to their individual talents, and this is something that not everyone sees, but the encouragement for each other to broaden their skillsets is wonderful. Charlie is seen to be teaching Hannah and the staff as well, about butchery and food flavours. Hannah, however displays immense patience when showing him the ways and means of their IT system.

 

They are both on the same page whenever they need to be and they make sure that they speak what is on their mind and don’t allow issues to build.
Also, like many a couple, do their absolute best to not go to bed in a bad mood with one another.

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If there’s one thing that these guys do well, it’s finding the ability to look at the funny side of things; but they reiterate that it’s imperative they share honesty and transparency constantly which we have no doubt will enable this pair to continue the development of their business, look for their next project such as a place to call home, settle, establish a family and continue their passion for travelling and tasting.

 

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Hannah did admit that, despite his slightly oversized ego, that Charlie is probably the most calm, measured and annoyingly often right. She went on to add that despite the annoying ego, there’s no one that she would rather do life with.

 

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The throuple that is Hannah, Charlie and Bonnie have taken the Hop Pole by storm, created a fantastic environment where everyone is welcome, staff and customers are equally happy. The future is bright, the future is the Hop Pole, the future is these guys; or is it? There is some exciting news, but we will leave that for those guys to announce, but it’s great and will take them to the next level, and no it's not the patter of tiny footsteps!! 

 

In the meantime, they’ll continue to roam the UK and beyond, enjoy long dog walks, explore the competition and binge the occasional Netflix series.

 

 

 

Charlie and Hannah's story is a testament to the power of partnership, built on shared passion, complementary skills, and a healthy dose of fun. Their journey from yacht to pub showcases not just professional ambition but a deep personal connection that drives their success.

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All photos are credited to the talented Ed Schofield (@edschofieldphoto)