Craft beer pub on Northants high street thanks community for welcoming venue with open hearts
A pub specialising in craft beer on a Northamptonshire high street has thanked the community for welcoming the venue with “open hearts”.
The Goat launched in High Street, Long Buckby in March last year and is the venture of husband and wife Richard and Laura Mitchell.
Richard worked on the project alongside Three Hills Brewery for a couple of years and believed 12 months ago was the right time to open the off-site taproom.
The quirky building had been empty for around two years since the closure of the former micro pub The Badger’s Arms, and Richard knew it was the ideal place for his craft beer establishment.
The aim for the venue was to become a key part of the community and give residents a welcoming, quirky and fun offering that they have not experienced before.
Food is not available at The Goat and Richard looked forward to giving other businesses the chance to visit the venue to sell their goods.
Having described the craft brewing industry as collaborative, Richard was also invested in introducing ‘keg clubs’ – in which members of the community are invited to try beers for free, to see the difference between what micro and macro breweries offer.
“We’re really happy with what we’ve managed to achieve over the past 12 months and we’ve made a lot of friends,” Richard told the Chronicle & Echo.
“We’re a pub that gives you a big hug and a full range of craft beers and gins, all from artisan, independent companies. We’re really successful in offering regular live music and we’re a hub for that.”
Richard and Laura proudly offer a rotation of beers which change on a weekly basis, and they enjoy opening customers’ eyes to products they did not know existed.
“It’s unique,” Richard continued. “People come in as strangers and leave as friends. It’s a fun and warm place to come to, and quirky from any other pub.”
Richard admits he entered 2026 with “low optimism” and concerns for the hospitality industry, but believes The Goat is “bucking the trend” with its point of difference by specialising in craft beer.
As part of their commitment to the community, The Goat proudly sponsors local youth football teams and has offered their support to Long Buckby Feast Week. They raised £1,000 by selling mead to ensure the event can continue in 2026.
“As a pub, we can offer an intimate, social and safe space and we want to thank the Long Buckby community for taking us into their open hearts,” Richard concluded.