Located in Shifnal, The King’s Yard is a micro-pub where customers flock for an incredible range of drinks and hearty, home-cooked quality food.
The micropub is based in Unit 2 Cheapside in Shifnal and is open from May 2021.
Owner Adam Caton, a 35-year-old father of one, says it’s something he’s wanted to do for a while, and when the opportunity presented itself, he couldn’t turn it down.
Adam has been in the industry for over 20 years, first working in a pub when he was 14. Of this he said, “Pub is literally in my blood and it’s the reason I live.
“I have worked in a number of pubs during that time. I have also worked as a learning educator at a school for five years and was actually going to qualify as a teacher, but I decided to change course and work full time. I decided to go into the pub industry.
“So I worked nine to four at school and worked in a bar at night, and when I was planning to qualify as a teacher, the opportunity arose to have my own pub. I didn’t mean to.
“Opening the pub in May 2021 was a tough time. After the pandemic, things are slowly getting back to normal and we are now facing an energy crisis, but I didn’t find it tough. But I like to always look for the positive in things – I’m a very glass-half-full kind of guy.
“The cost of living is tough, but we manage and do whatever we can. I am not the kind of person who runs away from a challenge. It only goes one way, so look for the positive, but being negative can hurt your business because it affects everyone, your staff and your customers.
The micropub offers about 90 different drinks at once. This is what gives the pub a unique niche. Adam also allows customers to purchase beverages and drink them on the premises without feeling obligated. Go home to enjoy them too.
This adaptation to the business that Adam feels is key to his success and is much appreciated. Serve at once.
“We have a lot of regular customers who love crafts. Some enjoy weird and wonderful drinks, others traditional beers, and it’s great to have such a wide selection.
“Some customers come just to buy cans to drink at home and that’s fine. It’s great to approach it this way. We’re adapting our business. No one needs to drink beer here.” But it’s important that they come in and buy from here.”
The pub also serves food that was all home-cooked by Adam’s mother, who he says is very popular in the community, so they have a good following in their food and drink offerings.
He explains: All-round helpful ingredients and butcher-provided for a quality lunch.
“It’s nice to work with my mom, and it can be tough at times, but we do what’s best for each other and our customers.
“Since the store opened, it has been very well received and has been doing well.
“We are always striving to be better, we are totally community focused and our customers are our priority. We want to offer the best products and have been here for years. I would like to stay in
“That’s our goal. We want people to enjoy what we do. If they don’t, we’re not doing our job properly.
“Sam Nichols is also integral to everything we do here. He runs the place for me. Although he only started working for one day a week, he enjoyed it and wanted to go full-time, and it’s thriving under him.
“I get on well with the staff and I like making it a community pub, not about me. Yes, a business is a business, but I really want it to be a community hub owned by the customer, not me.” I’m just going to watch the process.”
Adam recently became a father to 3-week-old Grace. He adds: