06/09/2026
It’s coming to that time of year again when some of our little cygnets have to leave the nest and spread their wings… 🦢🤍
And this year, this one really hurts.
Poppy and Patrick spreading their wings and are off to university.
It feels like five minutes ago they first joined us as shy teenagers who could barely look us in the eye without turning a shade of red.
You think you’re taking on a teenager for a few shifts a week.
Then somehow, without really noticing it happening, you watch them become adults.
You watch their confidence grow, find their voice and go from needing reassurance to being the ones reassuring someone else.
You watch them learn to deal with people, pressure, busy shifts, mistakes, responsibility and all the chaos that comes with pub life.
Then one day you realise they can hold their own behind a bar, run a shift and support the younger ones coming through.
And somewhere amongst all that, they passed their driving tests, became old enough to enjoy a pint themselves and suddenly became fully fledged, responsible young adults.
Honestly, when did that happen?
They grew up here.
Their families get most of the credit, obviously 😂, but we got to see a little piece of it — the nervous first shifts, the awkward moments, the laughs, the mistakes, the little victories and the big milestones.
They stopped being “the young ones who work here” and became part of us.
Part of . Part of the family.
That’s the bit nobody warns you about.
You give them a job, but in return they leave a little mark on the place — and a much bigger one on our hearts.
And then, exactly as they’re supposed to, they become ready for something bigger.
So now it’s time for our two cygnets to earn their flight wings. 🦢
They’ve only got a few shifts left, which suddenly makes it all feel very real.
Go make memories. Make mistakes. Stay out too late. Learn loads. Laugh until your sides hurt. Meet people who change your life.
And every now and then, come home.
Because no matter where life takes you, there will always be a place for you here.
We are so, so proud of you, and we’re going to miss you more than you probably realise. 🤍🦢
