The model turned publican took on the Half Moon in Kirdford, West Sussex in 2017, restoring and reopening the Grade II-listed site with business partners.
Since being in the pub industry, Kidd has learned the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people.
She told The Morning Advertiser: “Your team is so important. The people you can rely on to support you, to help navigate, be shoulder to shoulder with you when the times get tough and you can sit and enjoy the wonderful ups and moments with as well.
“My team is like my family and I love and adore them all. Even the guys who have moved on I am still such good friends with 90% of them.”
Despite having much support around her, the pub operator outlined the hardships in running a pub.
However, she also highlighted how she wanted to be “fully immersed” in the running of the site.
“I have learned so much through blood, sweat and tears. It has been the most amazing journey but also really, incredibly hard,” Kidd said.
“I didn’t just want to be another celebrity that puts their name behind a pub. I love to get fully immersed.
“For the first two years, I was there every day. My mum lived upstairs. I was on the ground every day, from designing the layout, helping with menus, doing the wine and the beer choosing, to being on pot wash, learning how to run a pass, learning to cook, clean the lines, change barrels, doing P&Ls, really getting to understand what it is to run a pub.”
In February, Kidd shared the troubles faced by operators on social media, then warning there were “tough, tough times ahead”.
Exceptionally tough
This was something she reiterated when The Morning Advertiser spoke with her this month (June).
“The industry is exceptionally tough and we don’t get any support. The Government doesn’t make life easy,” Kidd said.
Ongoing cost hikes, particularly since April, have caused major concerns for Kidd however, the weather has had a positive impact on her business.
The pub operator said: “I’m amazed we kept our doors open. It was a moment all of us were worried it was not going to be viable.
“There were big worries. I had thank Mother Nature for giving us a gorgeous spring.
“As soon as the sun came out and people could sit outside, we could double our covers. It was like everyone was coming out of hibernation and it made such a difference.
“We’re quite weather dependent so without that, it would have been a much darker period.
“[We’re] now coming into our events season. We’re doing lots of car things, collaborations to keep going and keep generating people through the door. Summer is where we make hay to get us through the tougher times. 100% the yellow ball in the sky helped.”
Furthermore, the former model and TV presenter also shared her thoughts on the latest series of Clarkson’s Farm
“Having the pub [featured] was just amazing. It’s brilliant what he is doing. He’s got such an amazing pull and power but I know he’s really struggling as well. People like to take mementos...
“But anything he does, he does it with such a human way, very honest.
“The more people who can shout, especially if you’ve got Jeremy’s reach and he’s not frightened to go up against councils. Go on Jezza!
“The little reach I have I will keep beating my drum and stamping my feet. There should be more support, we all need as much help as we can get.”
Lonely and daunting
Meanwhile, Kidd recently co-hosted a vodcast with First Dates’ and pub operator Merlin Griffiths, which was launched by Heineken SmartDispense in a bid to offer consumers a behind the scenes look at the realities of running a pub today.
She outlined the gist of the series: “It’s about getting stories and tips of the trade and all sorts of lovely things from behind the bar. Speaking to other operators hearing the way they’ve made a success of their pub alongside how they’ve navigated through the highs and lows.
“It’s been so interesting for me to talk to other operators who might have pubs in cities, other rural pubs, really getting to understand their community, what works and what doesn’t.
“Sometimes when you’re a sole operator I can be lonely and a bit daunting especially what we’ve gone through in the past couple of years, there’s this lovely family feel through the podcast, which I didn’t know before.”
SmartDispense is a system recently Kidd recently implemented at the Half Moon and she highlighted the impact it has had.
She said: “We got it put in a couple of months ago and can’t believe how unbelievably brilliant it has been.
“The time that it saves, the energy and actually having a pint that is perfect temperature is just amazing.
“All my locals that come in every day have said the difference has been extraordinary.”
