The Forge in Glenfield is celebrating 15 years under The Beautiful Pubs Collective, an anniversary that’s been marked by a fantastic interior refurbishment.
Sam Hagger, the Co-Founder and Director of The Beautiful Pubs Collective, began his journey at The Forge, which then led him to also take on The Rutland & Derby and Knight & Garter. As with all of the Beautiful Pubs pubs, The Forge is a local leader in quality of food, drinks and service.
We caught up with Sam to take a look back on these 15 years and see what’s next.
How would you describe The Forge in 5 words to someone who has never been?
That’s a super hard one… I’d say definitely ‘Welcoming’, ‘Hospitable’, & ‘Something for Every Occasion’
Tell us about your journey at The Forge?
An absolute roller coaster! Like most businesses there have been many challenges but we tend to keep them parked at the back of our mind. The Forge has evolved so much over the past 15 years both physically and with what it offers; from Two Meals for £6 back in 2008, our monthly live music nights & annual music festival Glenstock to our physical developments in 2009, 2017 & 2023, our pandemic Pizza Shed launch, Sunday Quiz Nights and Saturday Brunch. A constant evolution of occasions we serve & the guests experience has kept it interesting for us and most importantly for our guests.
How much does it mean to you to be able to celebrate 15 years here?
It means the world, having taken the pub in a recession we began to think we might not survive in the first couple of years, then the pandemic came. The Forge’s survival & growth has impacted so much more through the wider Beautiful Pubs Collective. Reaching 15 years of any independent business is worth celebrating but for us it’s a chance to celebrate everyone who has been part of the journey, past & present, but also a chance to look forward and plan how we can continue to delight our guests for hopefully years to come.
What changes can people expect from the refurbishment?
In our opinion, The refreshed Forge finally is a truly beautiful pub. We are now truly proud of every area and love seeing our returning guests’ reactions when we taken them through.
What is your favourite thing on the menu?
The Mussels in Cider & Cream Sauce (to start, de-shelled & served in a sourdough roll) are delicious, they remind of family trips to Norfolk. But I am also obsessed with our pies, which are just consistently delicious!
The Forge was the beginning of your Beautiful Pubs, but what makes each of your pubs so special?
Their unique offerings, their incredible teams and their guests!
Do you have a favourite memory from the last 15 years?
I have so many great memories. I took on the Forge as a young pub manager obsessed with hospitality and food, and I give thanks for the journey everyday. I’ve met some of my best friends and my wife thanks to The Forge, it has a really big place in my heart.
What do you have planned for the future at The Forge?
We have an amazing foundation at The Forge but our future will be dedicated by how well we continue to look after the amazing people who choose to spend their money and time with us. We must never lose sight of that!
The Forge is located on Main Street, Glenfield, LE3 8DG. You can find full information and menus on their website at theforgeinn.co.uk.
