23/09/2026
Well… I suppose it's time I told you all ❤️
After an amazing year at The Olympic, I've made the very difficult decision to step away.
I've been offered an opportunity back in my career that I simply can't turn down and, unfortunately, there just aren't enough hours in the day to do both.
So this weekend will be our last weekend at The Olympic, and on Monday we'll be handing the keys back.
When Reubs and I first started at The Olympic, I don't think either of us quite knew what we were taking on 😂 but what a year it's been.
We've had karaoke nights, birthday parties, engagement parties, Pokémon afternoons, free pool and jukebox, packed weekends and plenty of quieter afternoons putting the world to rights.
We've had pool nights thanks to supportive friends, bringing players in from other pubs for friendlies - usually accompanied by one of Jas's curries or my now famous NZ casserole 😂
But more than anything, we've watched people who hadn't been in for years come back through the doors, made new friends, rebuilt old relationships and watched The Olympic become a proper community pub again. That's what I'm most proud of. ❤️
And none of it has just been me.
A very special thank you to Gabs, Lisa, Mand Amanda Hill Kaycee Kaycee Cross and Lil Lily Wilson who've worked tirelessly behind that bar with me. You've covered shifts, survived the mad nights, dealt with everything that's been thrown at you and helped make the place what it is. I couldn't have done it without you. ❤️
And an extra little mention for my Gabs, who's now off starting her own next chapter at university. I'm incredibly proud of you. ❤️
Then there are the people who've just quietly got stuck in and helped because they care about the place.
Kim Kim Abram, Toni and little Ethan - maintaining the pub, sorting the gardens, helping behind the bar and being there whenever something needed doing.
And Dave, Neil, Diane, the grandchildren and all the family. Dave in particular has spent his own time cleaning up the play area, making sure the tables were safe and secure for people to sit on and generally spotting things that needed doing and just getting on with them.
None of you had to do any of that. You did it because you cared about us and about The Olympic, and that means more than you probably realise. ❤️
I'm also really proud of the relationship we've built with Gaz and Justine over at The Vic The Victoria Draycott. It never needed to be one pub against the other - we're all part of the same community - and I really hope that continues. ❤️
And then there's Reubs… Reuben Pollard ❤️
I don't really know where to start with this one.
Reubs has been alongside me pretty much from the beginning. He's cared about The Olympic every bit as much as I have and has thrown himself into absolutely everything - the ideas, the events, the plans, the cleaning, the sorting, the worrying, the laughing and probably quite a bit of arguing along the way 😂
We've spent more time together over this last year than either of us probably ever expected to, driven each other completely mad at times and laughed until we've cried, but somehow we've always ended up planning the next thing we wanted to do at the pub.
He's been right there beside me through all of it. I genuinely couldn't have done what we've done at The Olympic without him.
I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved together and, more than anything, I'm proud to be able to call Reubs one of my best friends. ❤️
The Olympic might be where that friendship started, but it certainly isn't where it ends.
And to all our regulars, friends and families who've supported us along the way - thank you.
There are far too many of you to name without me inevitably forgetting somebody! Every event you've turned up to, every friend you've brought in, every bit of help you've given us, every laugh we've had and every time you've walked through those doors has meant something to us. ❤️
And of course, all the dogs! 🐶😂 I couldn't possibly leave out our four-legged regulars who somehow always know exactly who's got the crisps.
I know some people are worried about what happens next, but please don't be. I've been reassured that The Olympic is in good hands and whoever comes in next will have some brilliant foundations to build on. Please give them the same support you've given us.
And finally, a thank you to Banx Pub Group The Banx Pub Group Jamie Banx for giving me the opportunity to take on The Olympic in the first place. It's certainly been an experience 😂 but one I'm genuinely grateful to have had. I've learnt a lot, met some amazing people and made friendships that I know will last well beyond my time behind the bar (and changing barrels!!). ❤️
I'm leaving on really good terms and I'll absolutely still be supporting The Olympic - I'll just be doing it from the much more enjoyable side of the bar with a bottle of w**e in my hands 🤣🍷
So we've got one last weekend together before we hand over those keys on Monday.
Let's make it a good one. ❤️
Thank you, genuinely, for making this a year I'll never forget.
Frankixx Francesca Balvert
