Running a pub is more than pulling pints — it’s about managing people. Too many landlords fall into the trap of only addressing staff performance when problems boil over. That reactive approach wastes talent, drives turnover, and stalls growth.

A smarter way is the Performance Management Cycle: Plan → Coach → Review. By setting clear expectations, tailoring coaching styles (think Hersey & Blanchard’s Situational Leadership II), and recognising good performance, landlords can build a culture of continuous improvement. The result? Motivated staff, stronger service, and a more profitable pub.

Staff turnover is draining pubs of time, money, and talent — but there’s a smarter fix than discounts or constant hiring. Personal Development Plans (PDPs) give landlords and staff a roadmap for growth, built around three simple questions: Where am I now? Where do I want to be? How can I get there? By investing in PDPs, pubs create engaged teams, better customer service, and stronger profits.

Most landlords waste money hitting “boost” on a blurry pint photo and hoping punters show up. The result? 3 likes — usually from your mum, your bar manager, and one random bloke.

This episode is your Beyond the Boost playbook: how to stop wasting budget and start running Facebook & Instagram ads that actually sell pints, seats, and roasts.

We’ll cover: 🍻 Why boosting is dead in 2025. 📍 How to target locals within 2 miles — not the whole city. ⚽ Templates that fill quiz nights, match days, and roast slots. 📊 Real ROI case studies (£75 → £1,200+ sales). 🎯 How to track bookings, not likes.

If you’ve ever sworn ads don’t work for pubs — this will change your mind.

👉 Full Pub Ads Playbook → smartpubtools.com/blog 👉 Ad templates on tap → smartpubtools.net

Most pubs don’t fail because of the beer — they fail because of silence online.

In this episode, we dive into The Pub Marketing Playbook 2025, a no-fluff guide to filling seats, selling pints, and keeping punters coming back. You’ll learn why the old chalkboard post — “Quiz Night Tuesday 7pm” — just doesn’t cut it anymore, and how SmartPubTools’ 20 campaign frameworks can transform your pub’s marketing in minutes.

We cover: 🍻 Quick digital wins (Google Business, 5-word social posts). 🎤 Event-led strategies (quiz nights, matchdays, karaoke, roasts). 🎯 Loyalty & retention (birthday pints, VIP passes, WhatsApp groups). 🤝 Community-driven marketing (local legends, photo walls, seasonal events).

Whether you’re a landlord fighting to stay afloat or a pub group ready to scale, this Playbook gives you practical, banter-packed strategies to thrive in 2025’s attention economy.

👉 Full guide → smartpubtools.com/blog 👉 Try the tool → smartpubtools.net

Great ideas don’t make pubs thrive — great implementation does. In this episode, we break down the exact steps every landlord can follow to make changes stick.

You’ll learn:

• Why SMART objectives are the backbone of pub improvements.
• How the RACI model stops “everyone’s responsible” chaos.
• The role of staff training and cheat sheets in reducing fear.
• Why piloting changes beats “big bang” rollouts.
• How to celebrate quick wins and embed lasting improvements.
• Real case studies of pubs that nailed change (and those that flopped).

👉 Full written guide: smartpubtools.com/blog 👉 Automate your pub marketing: smartpubtools.net

Why do pub staff resist change — and how do you get them on board? Most pushback isn’t laziness. It’s fear, uncertainty, or poor communication.

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• The 5 biggest barriers to change in pubs (fear of incompetence, loss of control, ripple effects, bad timing, poor comms).
• The psychology of resistance (loss aversion, social proof, change fatigue).
• Frameworks like Kotter, ADKAR, and Lewin for turning resistance into support.
• Real pub case studies: fails and wins.
• A landlord toolkit for spotting resistance early and flipping it into buy-in.

👉 Full written guide: smartpubtools.com/blog 👉 Automate your pub marketing: smartpubtools.net

Every change in a pub affects more than just the landlord. Staff, regulars, breweries, landlords, even the council — they’re all stakeholders. Ignore them, and changes flop. Involve them, and changes thrive.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to use the Power/Interest Grid in a pub context.
• Why landlords and breweries sit in “high power, high interest.”
• Why staff and regulars need clear communication.
• How to tailor your message for suppliers vs regulars vs council.
• Real pub case studies of stakeholder fails (and wins).

👉 Full written guide: smartpubtools.com/blog 👉 Automate pub comms: smartpubtools.net

Every pint pulled in your pub is the result of a deal — with breweries, landlords, or staff. But too often, negotiations turn into conflict instead of collaboration.

In this episode, we cover:

• How to negotiate with breweries on price hikes.
• How to consult staff on rota disputes without losing trust.
• How to prepare for landlord rent reviews with data and BATNA.
• The difference between distributive and integrative bargaining.
• Real case studies of pubs that saved thousands through better negotiation.

👉 Full written guide: smartpubtools.com/blog 👉 AI-powered marketing tool: smartpubtools.net