Throughout the UK the number of Micro pubs recently reached the 100 milestone, up from half of that towards the end of 2013. However these pubs are proving to be a huge success with only one failed attempt at opening a micro pub as of yet and numbers steadily growing.
Martyn Hillier, founder of the Micro pub Association and owner of the first micro pub – the Butchers Arms in Kent (opened in 2005) believes that by 2020 there could be 5,000 micro pubs across the UK.
Martyn defines a micro pub on the micro pub association website as “a small freehouse which listens to it’s customers, mainly serves cask ales, promotes conversation, shuns all forms of electronic entertainment and dabbles in traditional pub snacks”.
Martyn Hillier formed the association in 2012 with Stu Hirst, the website now has over 850 active forum members where for just £10 a year you can discuss all aspects of setting up a micro pub for yourself, by speaking to experienced members about subjects such as: finding a premises, licensing, planning applications, suppliers, micro pub management, legal issues, insurance and ensuring success.