7 Goals, 300 Free Pints, 1 Viral Pub Promotion

There’s something timeless about a great pub conversation. It’s where stories are shared, ideas sparked and wisdom passed between pints.

HEINEKEN SmartDispense® is capturing this – and more – with the launch of its new vodcast series, Three Landlords Walk into a Bar. 

The series is set to offer a fresh, insightful and entertaining look at what it means to run a pub in today’s fast-evolving hospitality landscape, while heroing the incredible people behind the bar that make British pubs the centre of their communities. 

A fresh voice for the on-trade

Hosted by publican and former model Jodie Kidd, and landlord and Channel 4’s First Dates bartender Merlin Griffiths, the series brings listeners behind the scenes of some of the UK’s most dynamic venues. 

Each episode features a different publican, offering real-world stories and candid reflections on the challenges, creativity and resilience that defines the industry today.

With a focus on smart solutions, storytelling, and people, the vodcast series is as practical as it is entertaining – shedding light on how publicans are adapting, innovating and thriving across the country. At the heart of it is a celebration of the Great British pub, not just as a business, but as a cultural cornerstone.

Episode one: a viral pint promo and a landlady who’s raising the bar

The inaugural episode sets the tone for the series with an unforgettable guest, Beccy Webster, landlady of The Gedling Inn in Nottingham. 

Beccy’s story first captured headlines in February this year, when a spontaneous football promotion at her pub unexpectedly went viral. Ahead of Nottingham Forest’s match against Blackburn Rovers, she shared a light-hearted incentive on social media, where patrons could get a free pint for every goal Forest scored.

The resulting 7–0 scoreline at full time meant more than 300 free pints were served in a single night, transforming what could have been a costly gamble into a marketing triumph. The pub was packed, social media exploded, and The Gedling Inn found itself at the centre of a feel-good story that reached far beyond Nottinghamshire, and even the UK, making global news stories. 

Listen to the incredible full story in episode one of Three Landlord Walk into A Bar, here.

Beyond the headlines: the real story behind the bar

What also emerges in the first episode, is a much deeper portrait of a modern licensee. Beccy discusses the importance of creating an inclusive and welcoming space, especially as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated sector. 

She reflects on the pressure – and opportunity – of representing her community through her business, and the value of embracing social media to market her venue and further connect with customers.

A smarter way to serve

The episode touches on the role of technology behind the scenes. Beccy shares how she’s been in the pub industry for over 20 years, and when she took over her fourth (and current pub), she inherited a HEINEKEN SmartDispense® system. 

This has transformed operations in her cellar, improving consistency, reducing waste and saving time on cellar management allowing her to focus on other areas of the business. For her, it’s not just about efficiency; it’s about delivering the best possible pint to every customer, every time, something that has been recognised by patrons in their strong feedback. 

Quality and reducing waste are becoming increasingly non-negotiable in the on-trade. HEINEKEN SmartDispense® supports by saving landlords time, significantly reducing water waste and ensuring a perfect pint every time. In Beccy’s case, it also allows her team to focus more on customer service and other areas of the business, and spending less time in the cellar – something every operator can relate to.

Tune in now – and discover how to pour smarter

In an industry built on conversation, connection and community, The Three Landlords Walk into a Bar series offers a platform for publicans to share the realities of running a venue in today’s climate, while championing the innovative and communal spirit that continues to drive the sector forward.

For publicans looking to evolve their offer, deliver consistent quality and embed sustainable practices in their operations, HEINEKEN SmartDispense® is a compelling proposition. And for those simply seeking inspiration, advice or a moment of camaraderie, this vodcast series is set to deliver that in spades.

Episodes of Three Landlords Walk into a Bar will be released fortnightly with future episodes spotlighting: 

• The team behind Liverpool’s world famous Cavern Club 
• The landlord of The White Lion in Stockport — one of Britain’s oldest and most haunted pubs
• The founder of The Prince of Peckham, one of London’s most inclusive community hubs.
• The brains behind the tech revolution happening behind the bar of Scotland’s Atlas Hotels

Tune into the first one now, available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or smartdispense.heineken.co.uk, where you can also learn more about how HEINEKEN SmartDispense® can support your business.