Inside The Fat Pig Freehouse on John Street with Tiny

Tucked away from the high street bustle, independent backstreet pubs offer a vital, grounded space for local connection. In this feature, we visit The Fat Pig Freehouse in Exeter to chat with owner Tiny about running a welcoming neighbourhood venue rooted in tradition and quality local products.

Having been involved with the pub for sixteen years and owning it alongside his wife for the last seven years, Tiny focuses on maintaining a safe, comfortable environment:

"Welcome to The Fat Pig... Nice little independent backstreet pub away from all the hustle & bustle. Been here for 16 years... Seven years ago, we bought the pub. It's me, a couple of staff, wife's in the kitchen. Running a nice, safe backstreet pub."

Keeping things authentic extends directly to the bar and the kitchen, where everything is prepared in-house from local suppliers:

"Local products, cider, lagers, real ale. All the food cooked in house, a traditional menu... On a Sunday, roast dinner, beef, pork, veggie, every Sunday is busy."

At the core of the pub's longevity is a deep commitment to making every single visitor feel at home and appreciated:

"Everybody gets welcomed & everybody gets a good vibe when they leave... People should come in & they should feel welcomed to be brought into their house, make sure they've been appreciated 'cause it's really important if people stop coming into the pub, it's another pub gone."

Reflecting on what makes the daily work fulfilling, Tiny shares his appreciation for the people who walk through the door:

"Meeting people. It's still really nice. I get to meet people from loads of different walks of life, a little chat to them, see what's going on & seeing what people are like because people still surprise you."