Creating an identity and utilising social media is the best

way to ensure your independent business thrives, according to Chris Hotson, general manager of The Pod. He sat down with THOMAS MOODY

THE Pod is a gin and cocktail bar that can be found on the riverside in Newport in a refurbished former Taylor Wimpey office at the corner of Rodney Road and Clarence Place.

It opened in November 2017 and is owned and run by former Dragons and Wales player Paul Young, and Newport businessman Oliver Mason.

The bar’s general manager has noticed that people are wanted to use independent businesses more and more.

Mr Hotson said: “I think people are starting to really get on board with the independent trade, and I think that is across the board. Its everything from builders’ merchants to bars to cafes and hairdressers, people are preferring to use local and support the local businesses rather than give all their hard-earned cash to a chain.

“Chains serve a purpose and they do what they do very well, that’s why they have so many sites.

“This is quite family run and people notice that with the service and the offerings and how we cater for people. People come in and want to book the place out and decorate however they want, and that’s fine by us, you can treat it like it’s your place as well.

“We have got a few local gins in. Our chef uses all local produce in the kitchen. He gets his meat from Brecon for example. We try and keep it as local and as Welsh as possible.”

The bar’s unique identity and social media presence has also helped become such a success, picking up the ‘Small Business of the Year’ award at the South Wales Argus Business Awards.

Mr Hotson said: “The Pod is so unique, it really stands out from the crowd.

“Paul once described it as an edgy New York bar scene. There are not many places you can go that has a shrubbery wall.

“What we wanted to do was to have certain places and aspects that are Instagram-able, because that is so huge.

“The amount of people that come in that want pictures by the green wall or by the Pod sign when that’s all lit up its phenomenal. That was really important to us to have features that stand out that people can come and take a photo with.

“At the same time, they post it, tag us in, and that spreads the word to even more people. I think social media has played a huge part in that respect.

“For any small business out there, I would really advise to put in time and effort in to social media.

“Social media is the best way to convey your character and everything that makes you different. It’s unlimited.

“We are posting two to three times a day, it’s important to keep that flow and rhythm going.

“If you have a couple of days not posting, then people do forget and move on somewhere else. It keeps the buzz going.”

The Pod offer gin masterclasses and cocktail training, which are held in their separate gin room, and will be hosting two to three live bands a week in December.

They will also be celebrating their first anniversary in November, which will be held with a ‘back to the beginning’ theme.