23/07/2026
IS IT ENOUGH?
I’m no politician, and I don’t pretend to have all the answers.
We are small independent businesses and want it to be fair and make a difference!! We need help now!
What I do know is that every way I turn at the moment, there’s another bill to pay, another cost increase, another piece of paperwork, or another challenge to overcome. Running an independent pub today has never been harder.
Today’s announcement from the Prime Minister about reducing business rates for pubs is welcome. Any recognition of the challenges facing hospitality is appreciated, and every pound helps.
However, business rates relief isn’t a completely new idea. Pubs have received business rates support in recent years, and while continuing that support is positive, the reality is that many of the pressures facing independent pubs today have grown much faster than the savings.
What small businesses need now is confidence, stability and support—not handouts.
The reality for independent businesses like ours is that rising wages, National Insurance, food prices, utilities, insurance and maintenance costs continue to climb. Some days it feels like you’re working harder just to stand still.
People often see a busy pub, smiling staff and plates of homemade food leaving the kitchen. What they don’t always see are the early mornings, the late nights, the constant and worrying balancing act, the middle mans cuts, most importantly the responsibility of making sure everyone gets paid at the end of the week, what’s left in pot in all honestly nothing!!
The Royal Oak isn’t just a business to me.
It’s my home, my passion, I am incredibly grateful and proud of all I have achieved.
It’s where local people work, where young people get their first opportunity, where confidence grows, friendships are made, birthdays are celebrated, charities are supported and our community comes together. somewhere to be proud of!
When independent pubs are doing well, we invest back into our villages. We employ local people, buy from local suppliers, improve our buildings, create events, train our teams and help keep our communities thriving. We don’t answer to shareholders—we answer to our customers, our staff and our neighbours.
We’re proud to do that.
I truly believe hospitality is one of the greatest industries for giving people a chance. It teaches teamwork, resilience, confidence and people skills that last a lifetime. Many careers begin with a first shift in a pub.
Give independent businesses the confidence to invest and we’ll do what we’ve always done—we’ll create jobs, train young people, improve our businesses, support local suppliers and strengthen our communities. Investment in hospitality is investment in people.
I’m naturally a positive person, and I have to be. Giving up has never really been an option. Every challenge pushes me to think differently, work harder and keep finding new ways to make The Royal Oak somewhere special.
But time is running out and how long can we go on like this!!
I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together. Not because we’re the biggest, but because we’ve created somewhere people feel they belong.
My hope is simple: that independent pubs are given a fair opportunity to keep doing what they do best—bringing people together, creating jobs, supporting local communities and making memories.
We’re not asking for special treatment.
We’re not asking for handouts.
We’re asking for the confidence and support to invest, employ, grow and continue serving the communities that rely on us.
Thank you to every single person who walks through our doors, recommends us, supports local businesses and believes in what independent pubs bring to our communities. You make every long day worthwhile.
Here’s to keeping our village pubs alive for generations to come much love Louise and the amazing Team OAK xx ❤️
fansThe Royal Oak
