According to new research from Heineken SmartDispense, 98% of the UK population are still ‘besotted’ with their local pub – but most of them haven’t a clue what goes on behind the scenes.
The insight comes ahead of a new vodcast series offering a behind-the-scenes look at the realities of running a pub today.
Fronted by publican and former model Jodie Kidd and landlord and Channel 4’s First Dates barman, Merlin Griffiths, the ‘Three Landlords Walk into a Bar’ series aims to lift the lid on what really happens behind the scenes of a pub.
From pulling pints to cleaning the kitchen, each episode of the vodcast, released fortnightly, sees Kidd and Griffiths sit down with landlords from some of the UK’s most iconic pubs and bars to explore the real stories, graft, and innovations that keep venues thriving.
With drink quality now a top priority for 62% of pubgoers, the series also showcases Heineken’s SmartDispense system.
The first episode, available now on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and https://smartdispense.heineken.co.uk, features Beccy Webster, landlord of The Gedling Inn, talking about how her off-the-cuff promotion tied to Nottingham Forest’s scoring record led to an unexpected giveaway of over 300 pints.
Further episodes will spotlight operators including the team behind Liverpool’s world famous Cavern Club and Pub; the landlord of The White Lion in Stockport, allegedly one of Britain’s most haunted pubs; and the people behind the tech revolution happening behind the bar of Scotland’s Atlas Hotels.
Head of technical services at Heineken SmartDispense, Richard Stephens, said: “Here in the UK we love the Great British pub and 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.”
Kidd, publican of The Half Moon in Kirdford, Sussex, said: “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, landlord of the Dog & Gun in Leicestershire, added: ‘’Being a landlord isn’t just about pulling pints and hosting quizzes – it’s late nights, leaky pipes, and learning to adapt fast.
“Amidst turbulent times for the industry, we wanted to sit down and explore how Britain’s pubs are evolving to stay at the heart of their communities – whether that’s finding new ways to get people in the door or embracing game-changing tech like SmartDispense® to serve up top-quality pints more efficiently and sustainably.”
