When Carol West was approached 20 years ago to run a restaurant in Dockyard, she immediately dismissed the idea.The long-time restaurateur was already running Leamington Cave Plantation in Bailey’s Bay with her then husband Christopher, but something caught their eye because today, Ms West is celebrating the west-end mainstay Frog and Onion’s 20th year in business.Back in 1992, Ms West said everyone was against the idea of opening a restaurant in Dockyard, even the bank, as the west-end area was not yet the tourist destination it is today.“But we said, why not, let’s try it,” she said.The Frog and Onion Pub was built in a historic cooperage, which constructed barrels, casks and kegs and provisioned sailing ships from the 1850s.The restaurant’s name, Frog and Onion, comes from Ms West and her husband: the Bermuda onions, and their French chef/manager.“We wanted the name to be similar to what you’d see in a British pub,” said Ms West, adding that the name has a double meaning in that the ‘frog’ also relates to Bermuda tree frogs.Still not convinced of its viability, Ms West said she began cautiously, with a staff of 15, opening their doors to a small space with little décor, keeping the ability to expand if business went well.And, went well it did.“Business in the beginning quite surprised us actually,” she said. “At first our customers were all locals mainly and we had to work very hard to be different.”Today, Ms West has a staff of 25 employees, some of which have been with her from the beginning.“I’ve had a very good group with me the whole time,” she said. “I’ve got some real loyal people that I’m pleased to have to on our team.”Over the years they’ve grown their menu and now feature live music seven days a week and sell Frog and Onion branded shirts, hats and bags that have helped sustain the business.Today, they serve more than 20,000 famous Frog and Onion burgers each year.“We make our own patties and they’re topped with crispy onions and bacon they’re so good,” said Ms West.To celebrate the pub’s second decade in business, burgers, as well as fish and chips, have been rolled back to 1992 prices.The pub also now boasts Bermuda’s only brewery Dockyard Brewing Company, which was part of NorthRock Brewery until Ms West took over sole ownership last year.Now Ms West serves up five unique flavours of beer, brewed on-site to thirsty tourists fresh off the cruise ships and from the area hotels.Despite the recession, Ms West says her pub is doing well despite lean months over the winter months.“We’re a very stable company, we do things the right way and while some years are better than others, we’ve been very fortunate and we’re thankful for that,” she said.She added that cruise ship passengers have become their main customer base.“Without the cruise ships we probably wouldn’t be here, we’d be gone,” said Ms West. “I know some people say that cruise ships don’t bring anyone business but that’s not the case for us.”Asked what the future holds for the pub, Ms West said that it’s difficult to tell due to today’s economic realities but she’s proud of the past 20 years.“I feel it’s very rewarding to work this hard to do something and for it be successful,” she said.In season, the Frog and Onion pub is open seven days a week from 11.30am until the last patron leaves.Throughout April the pub will be holding various events, including magic shows, live music, raffle prizes and a dunk tank contest in celebration of their 20 years.For more information on the various events and activities, visit www.frogandonion.bm.