Balancing two careers, whilst running Britain's smallest pub
The Nutshell, Bury St Edmunds
Highlights:
- Geoff has successfully combined a career as a mortgage advisor with over 20 years as a pub tenant
- He has a trusted team, empowering day-to-day operations and driving success.
- Ongoing business support and partnership from Greene King Pub Partners.
The Challenge
Running Britain’s smallest pub is no small task — especially alongside a full-time career. For more than 20 years, Geoff Page has balanced his role as a mortgage advisor with the tenancy of his unique pub in Bury St Edmunds.
With limited space and a distinctive reputation to uphold, sustainability and profitability have always been key. Geoff is clear that success hasn’t been about doing everything himself.
“I’m doing more of the background management,” he explains. “But we’ve got a brilliant team that do a great job and take on the pub each shift and run it the way they want to run it.”
Creating and maintaining the right atmosphere has also been central to protecting local trade. “The atmosphere that’s been created — not by me, but by everybody in here — that’s a great thing.”
For Geoff, running the pub is about stewardship as much as business. “You’re a guardian for this place for a period of time. It’s never yours — somebody’s had it before you and someone’s going to have it after you.”
The Solution
A strong partnership and reliable business support have allowed Geoff to focus on what matters most — his customers.
Describing Greene King Pub Partners as “organised, supportive and close,” Geoff values the straightforward relationship. “We come from a different world, but we find it easy to deal with them.”
The support of his Business Development Manager (BDM) has often helped unlock new opportunities. “Sometimes I’ve missed a trick and the BDM has picked it up or suggested something I wasn’t aware of — and that’s useful.”
That partnership became especially important during lockdown. “The real thing I noticed was how supportive they were — the financial support they gave us and the general support through that period was vital.”
Beyond financial investment, Geoff highlights a proactive approach: “Strange things I hadn’t even thought of — it is very useful to have somebody alongside you who is really on the ball keeping an eye on things.”
With Greene King providing consistent business support in the background, Geoff and his team are free to focus on delivering great service and protecting their local trade.
The Result
Two decades on, Geoff has built a sustainable, profitable business — one that remains a cherished part of the community.
“Partnership support leaves us largely free to get on with the principal business of looking after our customers and serving beer.”
Through the right team, considered investment and ongoing support, Geoff has ensured that Britain’s smallest pub continues to thrive — preserving its character while securing its future for generations to come.
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Full transcript:
With the right team in place, Geoff Page has been able to combine his job as amortgage advisor with the tenancy of Britain's smallest pub for over 20 years We caught up with Jeff at his pub in Bury St Edmunds to hear his experiences of running this unique venue.
Geoff – “I'm doing more of the sort of background management but we've got a brilliant team that do a great job and take on the pub each shift and run it the way that they want to run it to a certain extent.”
“The atmosphere that's been created, not by me, but by everybody in here, that's a great thing.”
“The three words I'd use to describe Greene King Pub Partners are organised, supportive and close. My business partner and I, we come from a different world! But we find it easy to deal with them. It's very straightforward and so we've always gotten on well.”
“Sometimes I've missed a trick and the BDM has then picked it up or suggested something to me that I wasn't aware of and that's useful.”
“But the real thing that I noticed in terms of Greene King and the support, was actually during lockdown when they approached tenants and were so supportive in terms of how they dealt with it - financial support that they gave us through that period and the general support that they gave us through that period.”
“Strange things that that I hadn't even thought of and it wasn't something that I needed but I thought you know what a great idea, somebody's really on the ball in terms of who was keeping an eye on things.”
“Yeah partnership they support us in the background with any number of things, it does leave us largely free to just get on with the principal business of looking after our customers and serving beer.”
“We've made it a sustainable, profitable business. It's one of these responsibilities that you're a guardian for this place for a period of time. It's never yours - somebody's had it before you and someone's going to have it after you, but it would be lovely to think that in 50 years’ time, or however long, that this is pretty much the same within reason as it is today.”