30/09/2026
🍺❤️ THE END OF AN ERA… AND THE START OF A NEW CHAPTER! ❤️🍺
⚠️ PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE POST - THE MICRO BAR IS NOT CLOSING! ⚠️
Hey everyone,
It is with a VERY heavy heart that I’m announcing I have sold Artisan Micro Bar. ❤️
This has genuinely been one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make. I’ve poured absolutely everything into this little place — time, money, energy, love, stress, and enough caffeine from Artisan Espresso Bar to keep a small country awake. ☕🤣
Somewhere along the way, I realised I’d taken on a little bit too much. Apparently, running 3 businesses, having a personal life AND getting more than four hours of sleep is a bit ambitious. Who knew?!
After a lot of thought (and probably a few grey hairs), I’ve decided it’s time to step away from the pub scene and pursue my career in the construction industry.
So I’m swapping pulling pints for pulling cables, changing barrels for changing drill bits, and dealing with drunk people for dealing with builders… I’m not entirely convinced that’s an upgrade, but we’ll see! 🤣🔨
I’m delighted to announce that the sale of Artisan Micro Bar has now been agreed and confirmed, and the new owners will be Phil Sims, Terri, Wendy & David! ❤️
We’re currently waiting for the legal formalities to be finalised, and, all being well, we’re aiming for the official handover to take place in early November.
The biggest silver lining in all of this is knowing the bar is going into good hands.
They are close personal friends of mine, and between the four of them, they’ve got the passion, enthusiasm and fresh ideas to take the Micro Bar into its next chapter.
I genuinely couldn’t be happier knowing that something I’ve put so much into is being handed over to people who care about its future.
To Phil, Terri, Wendy and David — I wish you all the absolute best. I hope you enjoy every minute of it, make some incredible memories and take the place to new heights.
TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU… THANK YOU!
To everyone who’s walked through our doors over the past 19 months, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU.
Your support, your laughs, your patience, and your willingness to drink whatever questionable concoction we’ve decided to put on tap have meant more to me than you’ll ever know.
I’ve met some incredible people, made lifelong friends and created memories I’ll genuinely treasure forever.
We’ve had some absolutely brilliant nights, some hilarious moments, and some days where I’ve seriously considered setting fire to the cellar and pretending I knew nothing about it. 🤣
I’ve learned that no matter how organised you think you are, a keg WILL run out at the worst possible moment, something WILL break when you’re already stressed, and someone WILL ask for a Guinness just as you’re about to close.
But despite all the chaos, I wouldn’t change the memories for the world.
What started as a business became so much more. It’s become a little community, somewhere people can come together, have a laugh, put the world to rights and enjoy a decent pint and that’s something I’m incredibly proud of.
Although I’m gutted to be stepping away, I’m also proud of what WE’VE ALL built together.
Because without you lot, it would’ve just been me standing behind a bar talking to myself. Which, to be fair, has happened on the occasional Tuesday afternoon. 🤣
🍻 THE MICRO BAR ISN’T GOING ANYWHERE!
This is the most important bit!
The Micro Bar is NOT closing. It’s simply getting four new bosses who haven’t yet discovered how much bloody work is involved! 🤣
So please, keep supporting Phil, Terri, Wendy and David just as you’ve supported me.
Keep turning up, keep having a laugh, keep enjoying a pint and, most importantly, keep making the Micro Bar the friendly little place we’ve all come to love.
I’ll still be here until the handover, so there’s plenty of time for a few more pints, laughs and probably a few emotional goodbyes before I officially hand over the keys.
And don’t worry, I’m not disappearing completely. I’ll still pop in for a pint between jobs. The only difference is that when something breaks, I’ll be able to sit there, take another sip and say, “Not my problem anymore!” 🤣🍺
So yeah, this really is the end of a chapter for me.
I’m sad, proud, grateful, emotional, and probably about three years overdue for a proper night’s sleep.
But I’m also excited about what comes next.
Artisan Micro Bar has been a massive part of my life, and although it’s time for me to move on, it’ll always hold a very special place in my heart.
To everyone who’s supported me, worked alongside me, helped me out, listened to me moan, or simply popped in for a pint and a chat — thank you.
You have absolutely no idea how much it has meant to me.
Here’s to the memories, the friendships, my next adventure, and a brilliant future for Artisan Micro Bar under Phil, Terri, Wendy and David.
Thank you all, genuinely, from the bottom of my heart. ❤️
Shane 🍺❤️
P.S. If you see me sitting at the bar with a pint in November, please don’t ask me to change a barrel, fix the till, sort the Wi-Fi or investigate why the bloody chiller’s making that noise again.
I’M RETIRED! 🤣🍺
