New research from HEINEKEN SmartDispense® reveals a striking contrast: while Brits love their locals, most have little understanding of what goes into running one.
As part of a new vodcast series, ‘Three Landlords Walk into a Bar’, publican and former model Jodie Kidd and First Dates barman Merlin Griffiths offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse into pub life.
The survey shows that 98% of Brits view the pub as central to their community, yet 59% admit they’ve no idea how a pub is actually run. It also found that 75% of people consider their local publican a mate, and 26% have confided in them more than their own friends or family.
To change perceptions, the vodcast showcases the day-to-day challenges publicans face – from pulling pints to managing staff and keeping the business afloat. Guests include landlords from iconic UK venues, such as Liverpool’s Cavern Club, Stockport’s haunted White Lion, London’s inclusive Prince of Peckham, and the innovators driving a tech revolution at Scotland’s Atlas Hotels.
The first episode is live now and features Beccy Webster, landlord of The Gedling Inn, who shares how an off-the-cuff promotion tied to Nottingham Forest’s scoring record led to an unexpected giveaway of over 300-pints.
HEINEKEN’s Richard Stephens says, “Here in the UK we love the Great British pub… and our insight shows drink quality matters more than ever. This pioneering vodcast series shines a light on the tireless hard work our operators put in every day to keep the lights on and their customers happy. Our latest SmartDispense® insight shows that the quality of drinks is more important than ever, and we want to showcase how we can help publicans to achieve this – every day and for every pint.”
Jodie Kidd publican of The Half Moon in Kirdford, Sussex says, “People are always surprised when they find out I run a pub. It’s one of the toughest yet most rewarding jobs. There’s a whole world behind the bar that most punters never get to see – the highs, the graft, the sheer heart landlords pour in. That’s exactly what we wanted to showcase with Three Landlords Walk into a Bar – real people, real stories, and why these places matter so much to our communities.”
”Griffiths agrees, “Being a landlord isn’t just about pulling pints… it’s about adapting and evolving.”
The series is available now on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and smartdispense.heineken.co.uk.