Nancy Collins didn’t just play Brews Of The World, she fell for it.
While performing there with her band Dirty Bomb, something clicked.
“I really enjoyed my gigs there and really liked it as a pub,” she says. “Then the opportunity came up… and it meant I could work with my brother in a really cool space.”
It helps that her brother George Collins makes his own beer.
George is the co-founder of Bluntrock Brewery, launched in 2021 in Rock, Cornwall alongside Hugo Roads. A Burton lad by birth, George cut his teeth at Sharp’s Brewery before a five-year stint at Padstow Brewing Company. Bluntrock itself began life in four converted yellow shipping containers, directly opposite Sharp’s, brewing on a tiny 150 litre plant and serving everything through its own taproom.
Back in Burton, Nancy’s own story will be familiar to many. She honed her craft at The Elms and yes, plenty of you will recognise her from behind that bar.
“I always told myself I wouldn’t run a pub,” she laughs. “But this was too good to turn down.”
Now, after a full transformation, she’s ready to unveil something entirely her own.
Bernie’s opens on 9th May, a fresh, funky, colourful reinvention of Brews Of The World. The name? A tribute to her dog, adopted during her time at The Elms, who now features proudly across the branding and artwork.
And the vision is clear.
“We’re passionate about supporting independent brands,” Nancy says. “Everything we serve will be independently produced and high quality.” That means no Doom Bar, no Carling, no Madri, just carefully chosen beer, alongside wines, spirits, softs and snacks that have all been thoroughly (and happily) taste-tested.
From the bar, George will be bringing Cornwall to Burton.
“There’ll be a full line-up of Bluntrock beers,” he promises, “alongside a constantly rotating selection from other independent breweries.”
Bluntrock’s range spans styles and traditions, from hazy modern pales to crisp Japanese rice lagers, and even a nod back to Burton with classic bitters.
Core keg and can range:
- Pagan Juice (5.0%) – Hazy Pale Ale
- Chub (4.0%) – Bright Pale Ale
- Helles (4.2%) – Munich Helles Lager
- Kanpai (5.0%) – Super Dry Japanese Rice Lager
Cask favourites:
- Bluntrock Gold (4.8%) – Golden Ale
- Ambassador (4.0%) – Best Bitter
No alcohol:
- Zen (0.5%) – Hazy Pale Ale
- Yop Rock (0.5%) – Lager
Alongside these, expect a rolling cast of one-offs and seasonal specials, landing not just in Burton but across Bluntrock’s Cornish sites in Rock and Newquay.
For Nancy, though, it’s about more than beer.
“I’ve made so many great memories on my pub journey so far,” she says. “And I’m really excited to make many more. I just hope the people of Burton love it as much as I do.”