January at The Butcher’s Arms – A Landlady’s View
By Julia
January is always a strange month in the pub trade, and The Butcher’s Arms is no exception. After the whirlwind of December — the packed nights, the laughter, the parties and the late finishes — January arrives like someone’s gently turned the volume right down.
The decorations come down, the diary suddenly has space in it, and you can almost feel people collectively saying, “Right… let’s calm down a bit.” And honestly, that’s okay.
For us behind the bar, January is about reality. Christmas is expensive for everyone, not just pubs. Customers have spent more than usual, the credit card bills are landing, and plenty of people are giving Dry January a go. Add cold, dark nights and it’s no surprise people choose the sofa over the pub more often.
What doesn’t slow down, though, are the bills. Rent, utilities, wages, suppliers — they all roll on regardless. That’s the bit people don’t always see. A quiet pub doesn’t mean a cheap one to run, and January really tests you as a landlady.
But January isn’t all bad. In fact, in some ways, it’s one of the most important months of the year.
This is when we really lean into what The Butcher’s Arms is about — community. The faces that do come through the door in January are often the regulars, the locals, the ones who support us week in, week out. There’s more time for a chat, more time to laugh, more time to make sure everyone feels welcome and looked after.
We adapt too. Not everyone wants big nights or heavy drinking, so we focus on things that bring people together — quizzes, pool, darts, live sport, good conversation and a warm, friendly atmosphere. Sometimes just having a cosy place to sit, out of the cold, with familiar faces, is enough.
Behind the scenes, January is also a chance to reset. We clean things that don’t get time during busy months, sort the cellar, plan events, look ahead to spring and summer, and take stock of what worked last year and what didn’t. It’s quieter, but it’s productive in a different way.
Most of all, January reminds me why I do this. A pub isn’t just about selling pints — especially in winter. It’s about being a place people can rely on. Somewhere that’s open, warm, friendly and familiar when the days feel long and the weather feels miserable.
January might not be glamorous, and it definitely isn’t easy, but if you get through it with your standards high and your community close, you’re stronger for the rest of the year.
And when the nights get lighter and the bar starts to buzz again, it makes it all feel worth it. 🍻
Butchers Arms Mossley 