25/08/2026
🍻 THE SIDE OF RUNNING A PUB YOU DON’T ALWAYS SEE…
Running a pub on your own isn’t quite as glamorous as people might think! 😂
The Smithy is a free house, not tied to a brewery, which means every decision, every order, every bill and every little detail falls on me.
And yes… sometimes when it’s really quiet, we may close a little earlier. It’s not because I don’t want to be open, or because I can’t be bothered — it’s simply the reality of running a small independent pub and making sure the business is sustainable. ❤️
What you DON’T see is everything that happens behind the scenes…
📦 Stock orders arriving and being checked
🍺 Moving, rotating and stocking fridges
🧽 Cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning!
📋 Paperwork, invoices and accounts
💷 Paying bills and keeping an eye on costs
📱 Social media posts, messages and enquiries
📅 Organising events and entertainment
⚽ Checking fixtures and planning what’s on
🛠️ Sorting repairs and maintenance
📋 Managing staff, rotas and everything in between
🧠 Constantly thinking about what we can do better
And then there’s the little things nobody sees — making sure the pub looks right, the toilets are clean, the cellar is sorted, the glasses are polished and the fridges are full.
And I’ll be honest… I can sometimes be a little moody! 😂
When you’re juggling everything yourself, trying to keep everyone happy, dealing with problems and making a million decisions a day, sometimes it all gets a bit much! 🤦♀️😂
But I also have to say, I’m incredibly lucky. ❤️
I have some of the best staff I could ever ask for. They go above and beyond, constantly helping, supporting me and doing everything they can to keep the Smithy running the way it does. I honestly couldn’t ask for a better team. ❤️🍻
And my regular customers deserve a huge mention too.
A lot of you go above and beyond and help me with things like the cellar, maintenance and all those little jobs that need doing. You give up your own time, lend a hand and help keep the Smithy ticking along.
I genuinely appreciate every single one of you more than you probably realise. ❤️
Being a small independent free house means every customer really does matter.
So next time you see the doors open, know that there’s a LOT that has gone into getting them open that day.
And if you see us close early when it’s quiet, please remember… there’s usually a lot more going on behind the scenes than you realise.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support The Smithy, my amazing staff, my wonderful regulars and everyone who walks through our doors.
I genuinely couldn’t do it without you. ❤️
Caz
