Pub in the Woods project is uniting pubgoers outdoors
The project showcases live music and events, with an array of outdoor seating options available for guests, within varying price points.
Seating options include the cabana fire pit, priced at £50 for up to 12 people; a restricted view cabana for up to 6 people priced at £40 as well as the open air fire pit for up to 10 people, priced at £40. The venue also offers standard, general seating options for up to £10.
Throughout the evening, cash and card payments are also available, with a variety of different menu items showcased on their site, including pizza and an upcoming Christmas menu.
Expansion opportunity
The Morning Advertiser spoke to owner of Pub in the Woods, Jenny Else, who described the reasons behind the project and how important community focused movements are within the hospitality industry.
“Pub in the Woods [was born] out of Covid and we're quite a small family-run business. We've already got an outdoor activity centre that's been running for around 40 years and we were affected quite badly by Covid.”
Else described the effect that increases in Covid restrictions had on the business: “When some restrictions started to lift and we went into tears, it was around Christmas time and we started to be able to do things outside again.”
She added: “We were on our own premises so we have always had family parties and festivals for ourselves and we thought we could open this to a wider market. We had some infrastructure here already but we were able to build on that and open an outside pub.”
The pub is described by owners as a ‘pop-up’ on Saturday nights, typically with private hires throughout both Fridays and Saturdays.
Else explained that first reactions to the organisation were “initially overwhelming” upon opening, largely due to being allowed to spend time with loved ones again, following the isolation of Covid.
Some of the site reviews read: “Great time, great food lovely venue and music” as well as “a great unique place to visit with lovely surroundings”
A positive spin
The venue is also offering a ‘nod to Oktoberfest’ throughout this month and has previously played host to various parties and corporate events.
The site is open to the public throughout April and December, and is also available for private hire. Else also said the site’s busier months are typically between April and December.
Else explained she believed Covid allowed people to look at things with a more positive spin, appreciating the site offers “something different” in order to embrace it.
She also said people appear to be quite happy to embrace “chucking on a coat and a sparkly hat”, letting go of the need to be all dressed up for Pub in the Woods and focusing on the element of socialising and not having the extra pressure of fitting into a dress code.
Else added that the site holds a firework night, which is an over-18s event, with a family and friends bonfire and fireworks events running at the site that were she said “sold out within 50 minutes of us putting tickets on sale this year. It's a really popular one” The site also offered a Christmas market the previous year, which Else said she has pondered over running again this year.
She continued: "Pub in the Woods has been really warmly supported by local people, but also by people further afield. We're having people travel from all over now thanks to social media such as Tiktok. And our fireworks event is coming up, which is really popular.”
Else emphasised a crucial element of the site’s success and the reason behind its positive reviews was largely down to the staff.
She explained: “Our staff are all our friends and family. There's nobody external that works for us and people comment how friendly the staff are and how welcoming and fun they are.”
Staff joy, she explained, comes from the fact Pub in the Woods is such a fun and different place to work.
She added: “The staff enjoy working just as much as customers enjoy being here. It's almost like we're all going out. We really enjoy the energy the customers bring and it's a really good fun night for us as well.”
