D’MOUTH AT WORK
Justin Moyse - Bar Manager, The Crab & Bucket
How long have you worked here? I have been here nearly 3 years and was recently made bar manager. I was previously Bar Manager at the Dartmouth Golf & Country Club and first started working locally as a barman at Norton Park when I moved to Dartmouth in 1998. At the time I was unemployed in Cornwall and I came and knocked on Mum’s door, asking if I could stay and could she do my washing. I no longer live with my parents and I now do my own washing! What’s good about working at the Crab & Bucket? Well the view across the South Embankment helps enormously! It beats having to stare at a brick wall when the pub is quiet especially in the winter. I actually like the winter here as I love watching the weather changing. The owners, Chris and Liz Moseley, have created a nice friendly atmosphere. We’re a small team; at most times there are only two full time staff but more help when we’re busy. We’re only a small bar and we can very quickly get busy. We attract a large cross section of ‘local’ locals, second home-owners, holidaymakers, yachtsmen, coach parties etc. We’re open all day so you can get a coffee or a sandwich and even sit outside to watch the boats go by. Our position on the Embankment and the great views from the bar draw lots of different people. We’re also a bit of a ‘sports’ bar so we screen the main sporting events on the big TV and there’s often a match being shown at the weekends. What qualities does a successful bar manager need? You must be a people person, comfortable with your customers and managing your staff. There’s always a lot to do each day so it’s nice and varied. We have to make our customers comfortable as soon as they walk into the bar. Sure, we have our fair share of ‘difficult’ customers but it doesn’t happen that often and you just treat them with respect, politeness and deal with the problem as it arises. If a customer leaves happy, we’re happy too. How do you cope with the long hours? I’ve been doing it a long time so I’ve got used to it. It’s not all standing during the day although you’re on your feet a lot. New bar staff certainly find it tiring at first. That said, much of my social life happens at the bar. Have you noticed changes over the years in people’s drinking habits? People don’t seem to go out drinking as often as perhaps they did. We can’t do much about the high prices that people complain of but, with that and the recession, it’s certainly encouraged more people, particularly the younger crowd, to drink at home.
The days of the traditional boozer are probably over so you need to offer something different be it food, sports’ TV, a great view, flexible opening hours etc. When are you busiest? Regatta Week is full-on; exhausting but fun. I probably prefer the Music Festival most as it’s a more chilled atmosphere plus there’s a music stage right opposite us. If you won the lottery? I’d buy a beach bar in Barbados. It’s where I came from originally until we moved back to the UK when I was 10 years old. My father is English but mum is Bajan. She got tired of island life and wanted to go where there were big open spaces. What’s your own local? Probably the Royal Castle. Have one for yourself? A rum & coke or a pint of Thatchers, thank you.
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