The loyal regular buying his local pub... that’s the size of a living room
The loyal regular buying his local pub... that’s the size of a living room
Amelia CaleySat, May 9, 2026 at 11:00 AM UTC
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Pub regular Paul Monroe is taking over the Butcher’s Arms in Herne Bay, which serves only pints, two-pint or four-pint jugs of the local ale - Eddie Mulholland
There is a sense of pride that comes with the local pub.
That’s why after 23 years operating the Butcher’s Arms in Herne Bay, Kent, Martyn Hillier is handing over his pub to a loyal customer.
Hillier, 66, opened the pub in 2003 in the quiet seaside village known for its Victorian seafront, and is now retiring.
He was thrilled when pub regular Paul Monroe, who runs local project design company Realise Productions, offered to buy it earlier this year.
The pub is beloved among the community, says Monroe, and part of its charm is its simplicity. It serves only pints, two-pint jugs and four-pint jugs of local ale – and it is the size of a living room.
“You sit down and Martyn brings out the beer, and the beauty is everybody talks to each other,” Monroe says.
Martyn Hillier opened the Butcher’s Arms in 2003 and is now retiring - Eddie Mulholland
The sale – and the pub’s survival – stands in marked contrast to the situation unfolding across Britain, where pubs are disappearing from high streets on a daily basis.
A combination of tax increases, elevated wage bills and higher energy prices has pushed many institutions to breaking point.
But it’s the size of the Butcher’s Arms that protects it from many of the cost pressures hitting Britain’s boozers. It is a so-called “micropub”.
The pub was the first of its kind when Hillier opened it in 2003, and now there are more than 1,425 micropubs operating in Britain, with the Butcher’s Arms acting as a blueprint.
The Butcher’s Arms was Britain’s first micropub – now there are over 1,425 of them - Eddie Mulholland
A micropub is a small one-room free house that mainly serves cask ales, often from microbreweries. The pubs tend not to have a bar or serve food, and there is often no background music in an effort to encourage conversation among patrons.
In the Butcher’s Arms there are benches around the perimeter, and memorabilia collected by regulars hang from the ceiling. It is table service only, so no one has to squeeze awkwardly past fellow customers in a tight space.
Hillier originally bought the space, which used to be a butcher shop, to operate as a florist and a specialist beer shop. But following the introduction of the Licensing Act 2003, which made it easier to set up drinking establishments in more unusual settings, he realised he could transform it into something different.
The act introduced personal licences, which shifted the focus from licensing the premises alone to licensing the individuals responsible for selling the alcohol.
“I said to my customers who were buying beer to take away: ‘I could turn this into a pub’, and they all went, ‘Brilliant!’” says Hillier. “Then I thought, what do you call a small pub? Well, you call a small brewery a microbrewery, and so...”
Hillier does not employ any staff, so he does not have to pay employer National Insurance contributions, and no entertainment means there is no need for a music licence.
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Sticking to ale from local suppliers keeps overheads low, and serving directly from kegs means there is no upkeep of technical equipment, including pumps and lines. A single pint costs £4 and a four-pint jug is £16.
“Overall it’s actually cheaper here than a lot of pubs, but because the overheads aren’t as high, you can still make money on it,” says new owner Monroe.
Serving ale only from local suppliers keeps overheads low, and serving directly from kegs means there is no upkeep of equipment such as pumps and lines - Eddie Mulholland
Opening times are also dictated by regulars, so the pub is only open for a few hours at lunchtime and then in the evening.
By keeping everything on a small scale, most micropubs do not make more than £90,000 in taxable turnover in a year, which keeps them below the VAT registration threshold. Many venues also benefit from some level of small business rate relief, which is available for properties with a rateable value of £15,000 or less.
Martyn Hillier (r), current owner of The Butcher’s Arms, with regulars Paul Monroe (c), who is buying the pub, and John Farr - Eddie Mulholland
This is not the first time a micropub has been sold to a local.
On the nearby Isle of Sheppey, former employee Sue Gray and her husband Nick bought the Admiral’s Arms in February when landlady Rachel Collier put it up for sale after 10 years at the helm.
Nick says: “It’s different and quirky and the locals are friendly. We still only sell real ales and ciders and keep them on rotation. We still have a no phone or recorded music policy, to keep it all about conversation.”
Even though Monroe wants to make repairs in the Butcher’s Arms and change the opening hours, he is determined to keep the ethos of the pub going.
“I’ve been here 20 years and I think it’s got massive potential,” he says. “I feel like there is a duty of care because there are a lot of people who need this pub.
“There’s one old boy, he comes in here three nights a week, and sits and drinks two pints. He doesn’t say a word, but he loves it.”
Customer John Farr, a retired sales consultant, agrees: “I have to say as one of the regulars here, it was just a massive relief when we heard that Paul was going to pick up the reins.”
There has been a wave of support from regulars about the change in ownership, with some even offering to cover opening hours or help with renovations. All business discussions are done over a four-pint jug of ale, of course.
The Telegraph’s National Pub Day
To support this vital industry, The Telegraph launched a nationwide competition in March, as part of our Save Our Pubs campaign.
Punters nominated their much-loved locals to win a round with a 250-word entry sharing why their favourite pub is one of a kind. Our five winners, selected by The Telegraph’s judging panel, have won a £5,000 drinks tab, for patrons like you to enjoy on our National Pub Day on Saturday, May 16.
You can also claim a free pint of Telegraph Ale at each of the winning establishments as well as more than 250 pubs across the country. To redeem a pint of our limited-edition brew, click here.
Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.
Source: “AOL Money”
