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"What makes you most proud about being a licensee?"

1

Seeing Guests' Smiles

Tommy Fox, FBII
Fox Taverns, Dundee
What makes me most proud is that feeling you get during a bustling service when everything just clicks. It’s like watching a well-oiled machine: the kitchen is humming, drinks are flowing, and the team is working in perfect sync. That moment of harmony, with the energy of a full room and the sound of happy chatter, is what it’s all about. Seeing smiles on our guests’ faces and our team members’ faces shows that all the behind-the-scenes work – the menu planning, the training, the late nights – was worth it. That’s the feeling that keeps me going, knowing we’ve created a place where people love to be.

2

Knowing we bring joy to customers

Joy Roberts MBII
PS The Pub Company
It’s all about the customers. About the joy, pleasure and satisfaction we can bring to them. The reward it gives me personally, when customers express how happy they are and enjoy what we offer them, along the fact that they keep coming back, means that we must be doing something right. That’s what keeps me going.

3

Empowers adolescent ambitions

Lee Price FBII
Royal Pier, Aberstwyth
The one thing that makes me most proud of being a licensee is seeing the development of a young person from being an inexperienced individual to becoming a confident and capable employee. Work experience is vital for young people. In recent years, I have watched the guarded generation covid kids flourish into charismatic individuals, recapturing their sense of belonging and connection with the wider world. Through working in leisure and hospitality, young people gain valuable skills that can lead to fulfilling and notable careers within a dynamic global sector. Find me another industry that blends fun and professionalism better and does more to empower adolescent ambitions in the same way: I’ll wait.

4

It's a privilege

Peter Pitcher
The Anchor, Stanwell Moor, Surrey
For me, it’s having the privilege to serve our communities in such a personal, tangible way, to build on our wonderful culture and bring people together that really need a space to belong.

5

Bringing community together

Angie Uren
Coach & Horses, Bradfield Green Near Crewe
I’m proud about all that we do with our community, making a space for families and friends to connect, to celebrate and support local causes. We are proud to keep the British tradition of hospitality alive, despite all the challenges we are facing. We love to come to work and keep smiling, making a difference to people’s lives, all who walk through the door. We are also so proud of our team, who day-in and day-out, create somewhere people can come, feel safe and welcome. That’s why we open the doors every day, because it’s nice to see people come in. On Friday, we have three couples who have known each other since school. They’ve been meeting here for the last seven to eight years and, if someone is missing from the group, everyone asks, ‘where’s Graham or Ray’. It’s about making those connections.

6

A home from home

Emma Harrison
The Three Hills, Bartlow, Cambridge
I’m proud that we’ve made the pub a place people genuinely look forward to coming to — where locals and visitors feel equally at home. We’ve built a team that takes pride in what they do, and we’ve kept our focus on good food, great drinks, and a warm welcome. It’s become more than just a business — it’s part of the heartbeat of our small village.

7

Providing the best experience

Adam Johnson
The Plough, Harborne, West Midlands
The reason I love this industry and what I do, is because of the people I work with and the customers we serve. They are all absolutely amazing and they’re the reason I get out of bed every morning. Giving someone a great experience, making them feel good, is why I’m here.

8

Being lucky to 'do what we do'

Steph Alpin
The Blacksmiths Arms, Rotherhithe, London
We’ve been here at The Blacksmiths for 13 years. It was our first pub and Tommy and I were both 22 when we took it on. We started our family here, with our three boys, Freddie aged nine, Georgie aged five and Jesse who’s two, and for us, the pub is not only our livelihood but also our family home. I can’t imagine doing anything else. Taking on our pub wasn’t something we’d planned to do, but rather we ‘fell’ into it, and I suppose that we’ve learnt to love it along the way. It is a 24/7 job, but it does give us the flexibility and freedom to do things our way. It has meant that when the children were small, we were able to keep them at home with us for longer. Had we had normal 9am-5pm jobs, they would have been in nursery much earlier. I feel being a licensee blesses us with more freedom and choice. For instance, when our eldest has after-school football, I can just tweak the rota to make it work. Like with any job, I suspect, you go through ups-and-downs, but when it’s your home and business you are thoroughly invested in it, which gives you more motivation. When it comes to what makes me most proud of being a licensee, it has got to be having the opportunity to get to know lots of different people — people who come from all different walks of life. It makes me feel lucky to do that we do.

9

Seeing connections being made

Nand Yadav
The White Hart, Holyport, Berkshire
As a licensee, what truly makes me proud are the real moments I have witnessed right here at The White Hart – moments that remind me why this place is so special. For instance, I will never forget when a family came in: a grandparent, a parent and a little kid – three generations sharing a meal together. The kids’ excitement was infectious, that parents’ pride was palpable, and the grandparent’s quiet contentment warmed the whole room. It was a scene full of life and love, and it stuck with me. What’s wonderful is that these moments keep happening. Birthdays of toddlers and 99-year olds , families returning time and time again to celebrate milestones, and then, almost like clockwork, the Morris dancers come on at intervals, filling the pub with energy and joy. Their vibrant performances have become a delightful part of the atmosphere here, turning our pub into a lively stage where everyone feels welcome to join in. These aren’t just one-offs events or staged highlights – they’re the heartbeat of The White Hart, it’s watching people connect, laugh, and create memories that make me proud to be a licensee. It’s about more than running a pub; it’s about fostering a place where life unfolds in all its wonderful colours, where stories are shared, and where every guest feels at home. And here’s the amazing part – The White Hart isn’t just a pub; it’s become a true community sanctuary, a place where culture blends, generations unite and stories come alive. That spirit has even caught the attention of the media, highlighting how food and hospitality can heal, inspire, and bring people together in ways that go far beyond just a meal. it’s moments like these that show how powerful and meaningful hospitality can really be. That’s what truly makes this role special for me.

10

People and positivity

April Reeves
What makes us most proud about being licensees is that we’ve worked hard to create an environment that’s more than just a sports bar. One of the things we love most is hearing women say how our brunch events completely changed their first impressions of the place – that shift in perspective means a lot, especially when we work so hard to achieve it. We’re lucky to have regulars who genuinely love our staff and our draught selection, especially at a time when so many pubs on the high street have closed and the town centre is losing a lot of foot traffic. Having them choose us over the Wetherspoon’s which is practically opposite, feels like a real compliment and I never take it for granted. We are also incredibly proud of the team culture we have built. We’ve seen staff join us as teenagers and grow into young adults, many taking on more responsibility after university. Watching them develop not just as employees but as people is something truly special. It’s not always easy! Being the one who’s called to fix problems, handle conflicts, or calm difficult situations. It can be exhausting. But what keeps us going is our family and those moments where we overhear people saying how much they love our pub, or that they don’t know what they’d do without it. That always reignites the passion. We’re not just here to serve drinks; we host a monthly quiz night, run pool and darts teams, hold charity discos for adults with learning difficulties, and of course, pub on brunches for the girls on Saturdays. It’s those things, the laughter, the community, the roar of a packed pub when England scores a goal in the Euros, and that relationship that makes it all worthwhile.

This interview can be found in the Autumn 2025 edition

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