Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie Walker.
Hi Jackie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
St Andrews Tavern was opened in 1994 as a British pub, It was purchased in 1996 by John and Dorothy Rowlands and their son Nick Walker. I met Nick Walker within three months of his arrival as my parents went to the pub. I am british by birth being born in South Afrtica. My dad was from Scotland and my mother from England. I grew up in England ,the middle east finding us in Florida due to my father’s work. My parents frequented the pub and i had just graduated from FSU and had come home, I dated Nick and eventually married him in 2001. During that time, I continued my own occupation as a social worker, but worked with the famiy at St Andrews. My father in law, John Rowlands was a professional football player,(soccer) in the past and my mother in law Dorothy (Dot), had pubs in the past in the Uk and in California. In 2005, I gave up my work as a social worker and Nick and i bought out John and Dot as they were returning to England. We ran the pub as we call it, together until his sudden death in march of 2021. We had just made it through Covid, with all the closures, limitations and obstacles that almost closed us down, we had made it. We were back and ready to continue with our dreams for St Andrews. When Nick passed away, I did not think i could do it alone, but decided,’ I should try and if i fail, at least I tried.” And here i am, one month shy of five years, still doing it. I have almost 30 years of long standing regulars and amazing staff that are more like family. St Andrews is a community.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Covid was a massive struggle and obstacle. We were open, we were closed, we were able to sell food but not alcohol or then we could only sell alcohol if someone was eating. Then we were able to sell food and drinks but no one was allowed inside. The executive orders kept changing and we did everthing we could to stay afloat. Thankfully , our regulars constantly ordered take ways and caterfing orders. When we were not allowed people inside, Nick and I were at the pub from 11 am-11pm 7 days a week in hope that someone would call to order. It was a very uncertain time.
Not to be emotional ,but Nick died in 2021, my best friend of 20 plus years died in 2022 and my father died in 2023. Being a small business with ,myself and 5 employees there wasn”t a lot of time to take out for that.
Rising costs of insurance, food and all the operational costs are a challenge, whilst still trying to be competitive with larger franchises and big name bars and restaurants.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I run an authentic British pub. We strive to give Floridians a genuine british pub experience. Our decor is full of old and new things from the UK. There’s plenty of memorabilia . We are well known for our fish and chips. In fact, we were just featured in an article about the 7 best places to get fish and chips in Florida. We specialize in british foods and recipes, keeping everything as close to the UK as possible. We show british sports and have our own teams in football(soccer) and darts leagues, common british sporting events. We celebrate British events such as Burns night in January, which celebrates Robert Burns ,scottish poet, St Georges day, British new year and hogmanay.
But i am most proud of the real community that St andrews is. We , as in my staff and our patrons, many of them long time regulars come together to help local causes. as afore mentioned, our patrons kept us going and even did a go fund me for us during Covid. Together, we have helped patrons in need, community organizations that need help and various local causes. When I have asked for help with something in our community . i am overwhelmed at times with the amount of support. When Nick passed away i had regulars offering to run errands, pick up supplies, fix things that broke, anything that i needed. I love what i do. Nothing makes me happier than the couple that come in and say they met here and married 20 years ago, someone that says they had their first legal drink here at 21 and just turned 40, someone that celebrated the birth of their son here and now comes herde to have a meal with them as an adult. Our longest running employee, who started here when she was 21 back in the late 90″s and retired from here 22 years later, her son now works here. The longevity of the relationships is what i”m most proud of
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Besides offering an authentic British pub, i think it is the genuine care for our patrons and the community around us. Its the relationships that are made here. Its sending a pub meal to the hospital or dropping it off to the house of a patron that is suffering with an illness. Its conducting a fundraiser to help a patron with cancer pay some bills whilst shes getting treatment. It’s opening early so a patron can bring his immune compromised dad in for a meal with no one else here so they can enjoy an outing for fathers day. It’s remembering that Alun likes a few ice cubes in his beer and that Wayne only wants a handfulof chips and a side of tomato with his fish. It”s remembering its the anniversary of a long time patrons passing and putting his pint of Guinness out on the bar when his family comes in.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://standrewstavernaltamonte.com
- Instagram: st_andrews_tavern
- Facebook: Standrewstavern Altamonte
Image Credits
Lindsay Widdall and Kellie Warren of Dynamite Studio,Inc
