The Butchers Arms

A Proud Family Heritage spanning 115 years

John

What is the history of the Butchers Arms?

This pub is now 115 years old. Originally, it was a miners’ pub, and my grandmother used to open it at 5.30 in the morning for the miners to get beer to take down the coal pit behind the pub. They would take beer down the pit because the water wasn’t safe to drink.

My grandmother was here through World War I and World War II. She and my grandfather had the premises together. She lost her husband when he was only 43, but she carried on with the help of my mother and my dad.

How many children did your grandmother have?

She had three children: my mother, Annie; my uncle Frank; and my auntie Gladys, but they all went their separate ways. My grandmother died in 1960, and my mum and dad took over the place. They had it for 15 years, and then I took over in 1975.

What was it like growing up in a pub?

Mainly work. I went to Mold school, and when I was eleven, I went to Ruthin school. The bus would bring me back here in the afternoon, but I didn’t help my parents in the evenings. I didn’t do anything in the pub. It just wasn’t my scene. I was more into farming, and I pursued that side. I used to raise poultry, and by the age of 20, I had a flock of 5000 birds. I also milked cows. That’s why the milk churns outside the pub, from when there was a milk stand.

I then had my own children, and I raised them in the same pub as their parents, their grandparents, and their greatgrandparents. We had Karen and Colin. Karen is the boss now. We are all just passing through, but the walls are still standing.

What do you like about the business?

I have met lots of very nice people, and I’m meeting new people all the time. We meet people from various nationalities because we welcome motor-homes. I do it because I enjoy it. If I didn’t have anything else to do, I think I would go mad!

How did you cope through Covid?

We did a lot of the work that needed to be done in the place. We decorated inside and out. We did a lot of repair work with the help of my grandchildren. They helped me a lot by giving me a hand to paint the place. It was enjoyable, to be honest. I missed the customers, of course, and we were very restricted, so we had to just carry on with the tidying and the repairs. It may have been different if we didn’t have the support from the government.

What is the hardest part of being a landlord?

I bought the place in 1991. It was the best thing I did because I could go anywhere to buy the beer. I was no longer tied to the brewery. It is a lot better to buy outside than from the breweries. Before, we had been tied to Burtonwood Brewery. They were very good, but they wouldn’t spend money on the property. At the time, the rent was realistic, so it was manageable. Then things changed. Things started to go downhill. They wanted to sell off many of their pubs. I was in a position to be able to buy this place, and it was the best thing I’ve ever done! I think it would have been closed by now if it had been run by them. Companies like that are not actually breweries anymore. They are more like consortiums, and they charge for everything. They make sure they take a cut on the beer sold. They wouldn’t have helped at all, which is wrong. It’s totally wrong. I do feel sorry for a lot of pubs that are tied.

What events do you host?

Back in the day, this was a singing pub. We had a piano going every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. If you arrived at 8 o’clock, you couldn’t get in as it was so crowded! Today, we have karaoke and a quiz. The quiz is held on the first Friday of the month and is very well supported. A lot of people enjoy the quiz. We do all sorts of things. On the last Saturday of the month, we have an open-mic karaoke night too. We do what we can to attract people, and these events are very popular. www.facebook.com/

How did you get into ClayPigeon Shooting?

I got into it quite a number of years ago (1978/79), and it has just snowballed from there. I have kept on doing it. We went to Germany in 1982 when Mold was twinned with Minton in Germany. We were there to represent the area for shooting, and we had a competition over there. People who want to give it a try have to book a session. Beginners are welcome, even those who have never shot before. We show them how to hold the gun and teach them how to aim and fire.

What is your advice for younger people looking to get into the pub game?

If you can’t buy the place, forget it. Don’t get involved with any breweries or consortia. They offer you the earth, but it never works out like that. It’s a very tiring occupation, and they think you just sit behind the bar, and that’s it. But it’s not like that. It’s about keeping the place clean, decorating, managing, and organizing things. It has been very rewarding for me, but you have to do everything, and it’s not easy. Running costs now, including electric and heating, have gone absolutely silly. These prices are going over the top, so it is very hard. I know I am lucky not being tied to a brewery, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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