This October marks ten years since The Edge family took over what was once ‘The Countryman' and began a new chapter as ‘The Bricklayers' we know today.

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If you've ever wondered where the name came from, there's a simple answer. Frazer and his dad were both bricklayers by trade, so it felt like the perfect fit. But the connection to the pub ran much deeper than the name.

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Like many village families, the Edges grew up with the local pub at the heart of community life, popping in for a meal, catching up with friends and sharing a bit of gossip over a drink. So, when the opportunity arose to take on the pub themselves, it felt like something they couldn't let pass by.

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Despite having no experience in the hospitality industry, they believed that, with the right people around them and a pinch of blind optimism, they could breathe new life into the pub and create somewhere the village could be proud to call its own.

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Ten years later, it's safe to say the journey hasn't always gone to plan.

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We've had our fair share of ups... and lockdowns. Floods, ever-changing regulations and more than a few unexpected challenges have kept us on our toes. Like so many independent businesses, we've had to adapt, evolve and rethink what a village pub can be.

 

The world has changed over the last decade, and so have the ways people spend their time. The days of every pub being filled with people stopping in for a quick pint after work or spending Saturday night at the bar are no longer a given. People's social lives, priorities and spending habits have understandably shifted, and the hospitality industry has had to shift with them.

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For us, that has meant looking beyond simply serving food and drink. We've had to create new reasons for people to visit and spend time with us.

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Whether it's live music, charity fundraisers, biker nights, family fun days, weekly quizzes or open mic nights, we've tried to create a place where memories are made as much as meals are enjoyed.

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We think that's what being a village pub is all about. It's about the people, the conversations, the celebrations and all those little moments in between. And that's why, as we look back over the last ten years, we're so grateful to everyone who has helped make those moments possible.

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That includes our team, past and present, the suppliers and fellow pub owners who supported us and shared their advice when we were finding our feet, the local villagers who have quite literally helped us through the floods, and every customer who has walked through our doors, whether once a week or once a year. Every one of you has played a part in our story.

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As for the next ten years? Who knows. We've learnt a lot, changed a lot and we're excited to see what comes next.