And it appears that the ruggedness of its clientele may well have rubbed off on the bricks and mortar.

In 1994, the L-shaped hotel, then called the Hunter on Hunter, survived a fire that ripped through its first-floor residential section.

It was minutes before noon on November 15, 1994, when fire crews escorted patrons out of the smoke-filled pub before taking about 45 minutes to extinguish the flames.

As was the case early yesterday, no one was injured in the fire.

Its first floor was badly damaged by the flames while other parts of the building had water and smoke damage.

Even as fire crews were mopping up 15 years ago, then publican Mal Butcher said it was not the first time the upstairs section had been lit.

The small hotel, a regular haunt for many seasoned drinkers, has its fair share of history.

Before the Hunter on Hunter, it was called the Federal, possibly the name most ageing partygoers would remember.

For some time it was owned by Jimmy Charlton, brother of world champion snooker player Eddie Charlton, who was a regular at the establishment.

In 1982, barmaid Debbie Rae Pritchard finished her shift, had a few drinks with some fellow staff before heading out for a night on the town.

She was never to be seen again.

In one of the most baffling murders in the Hunter, it was not until 2003 that then State Coroner John Abernethy ruled that Ms Pritchard had been abducted and killed by serial rapist Maurice Marsland.

Most recently, the Civic Hotel had moved away from its tough reputation and become known for its good food and as a favourite for the younger party crowd.

It is yet to be seen whether there is still some fight in the old pub yet.