Building a Thriving Village Pub: Tom and Laura’s Journey with Greene King Pub Partners
The Goat, Hertford Heath
The Challenge
For Tom and Laura, the dream was clear: to run a rural village pub serving quality food, delivered their way, while offering more than just a transactional experience for their community. They wanted to create a welcoming hub at the heart of an idyllic village — somewhere they could raise their children, build a sustainable business, and truly be their own bosses. But ambition alone isn’t enough. Turning a vision into a thriving pub business requires structure, planning and the right guidance. As Tom reflects, it’s one thing to say what you’d like to achieve — it’s another to have a clear roadmap showing you how to get there. They needed more than a tenancy agreement. They needed experience, honest advice, and a partner who would respect their background in hospitality while helping to strengthen areas where support was needed.
The Solution
That roadmap came through their relationship with Greene King Pub Partners — and in particular, their Business Development Manager, Andy. Rather than feeling “managed,” Tom and Laura describe the relationship as collaborative and empowering. Their experience and ideas were acknowledged, while expert guidance was provided to help refine business plans, shape strategy, and unlock new opportunities. Andy’s role has been central to this partnership. Having previously been a Greene King leaseholder himself, he understands the journey first-hand. His approach is flexible, adapting advice to suit Tom and Laura’s experience and ambitions. From sense-checking new ideas to offering industry insight and sharing best practice, he provides consistent business support rooted in real-world understanding. Crucially, the partnership is built on transparency and trust. If an idea isn’t commercially viable, they receive honest feedback. If an opportunity has potential, they are supported in making it happen. That balance of encouragement and realism has allowed them to grow confidently and sustainably.
The Result
Today, Tom and Laura run a fantastic community pub that reflects their original vision. They create their own events, design their own menus, and deliver a memorable experience that goes beyond simply serving food and drink. The pub plays a vital role in supporting local trade, strengthening the village community and attracting loyal customers. Along the way, they’ve developed invaluable transferable skills — from working under pressure to managing diverse teams and adapting quickly to challenges. Most importantly, they have built not just a successful business, but a lifestyle they truly value — raising their family in a beautiful rural setting while running a thriving pub at its heart.
Ready to run a pub your way
If you’re inspired by Tom and Laura’s story and want the freedom to shape your own pub business — backed by expert business support and industry knowledge — explore our current opportunities on the Pubs to Let page and start your own journey today.
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Full transcript:
For Tom and Laura, a close working relationship with their Greene King Business Development Manager has been one of the major factors behind enabling them to achieve their dream of running a thriving pub business at the heart of an idyllic village community. It's a lifestyle and a partnership that they both really appreciate.
Tom – “I had in my mind a rural village pub, cooking the food that I wanted to cook, the way I wanted to cook it. Trying to offer more than just a transaction for people in our community. Eventually I was able to get in a position to achieve that.”
Laura – “To be in a beautiful village setting, to raise our children in a beautiful village setting and be our own boss is a win win.”
Tom – “It's one thing to say this is what we'd like to achieve and it's another thing to have a road of how that can be done which is what Greene King brought for us.”
Laura – “You don't feel like you're being managed. They acknowledge your experience and then help to try and find and fill in the gaps to work with you which is really nice.”
Tom – “Whenever we express an idea, it was always possible. There was nothing that was outside of the realm of possibility.”
Laura – “One of the good things about having a pub is that you can manage your own events so you still get to do the fun bit but you get to do it for yourself.”
Laura - “The transferable skills are unbelievable - thinking on your feet, being able to work under pressure, working with all different types of people – they’re all very transferable skills.”
Tom – “Andy is our link with Greene King. He's the person we can sound off of, he's the person that if we've had another wild idea, he's the person that can help us achieve that. He's obviously very experienced and is there to help. I know that sounds a little trite but very few people are there to help you. There's lots of people to take your money or sell you a dream, but Andy really is the person to help you achieve what you're trying to achieve.”
Andy, BDM: “I've known Tom and Laura now I think for about eight/nine years. I play a part in their journey most definitely, but it is their journey and I'm always mindful of that. So that goes right back to great recruitment - right pub for the right partner. Keeping them on track, as I say, with such things as business plans and just being there for advice and support as they go along.” “I think really important to flex my advice and support based on their experience, their knowledge and their hospitality background. Most of all, from a BDM perspective, is just love a pub.” “In fact, I've been a Greene King lease back in the past, so I have trod the journey and so sharing best practice is one of the most invaluable roles that I can perform for our tenants.” “They've got the skill of delivering a fantastic community pub, they're just fantastic people and perhaps I've got a little bit of industry knowledge which I help them with.”
Laura – “Greene King are really nice and honest. If something's not going to work, something's not right, they're always very honest with you. Very good transparency should we say!”
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