This is the latest in a regular series of Business Q&A features published weekly. This week, we spoke to Christian Ogley, owner/operator of Blind Jack's pub in Knaresborough.

Tell us in fewer than 30 words what your firm does.

We are a specialist and real ale pub. We specialise in the more unusual offerings of the beer world.

What does it take to be successful in business?

Passion, and a genuine interest in what you're offering. If you lose that, you go downhill.

What drives you to do what you do every day?

It relates back to the question of passion. I want us to be the best and keep our standards as high as they possibly can be. Staying on top – that's probably what drives me on.

What’s been the toughest issue your business has had to deal with over the last 12 months?

There are so many in the hospitality industry, it's easier to say what hasn't been a challenge.

Our electricity bill, for example, was £400 before covid and £1,300 now. So you have to try and figure out ways of renegotiating your offering so you can cope with that.

You really need to be flexible in this industry, just so you can deal with what comes along.

Which other local firms do you most admire and why?

That's a really tricky one. To be honest, I'd probably say any restaurant or hospitality business – there's not one I wouldn't admire. Also, anyone using social media to help entice customers.

Our local breweries – Turning Point, Roosters, Daleside and Harrogate Brewing Co – are all pushing forward on a national scale. I admire the way they operate, jumping into larger projects that become national and then benefit the local industry.

Who are the most inspiring local leaders?

The people behind the Knaresborough Business Collective [Natalie Horner and Annie Wilkinson-Gill] are genuinely passionate community members. What they do in pushing Knaresborough forward is very impressive, and there's no gain in it for them, other than Knaresborough becoming a more successful and nicer place. Everything they do is really good.

What could be done locally to boost business?

It's already being done. Knaresborough Business Collective has engaged [community marketing specialists] Totally Locally, and we're really embracing that as a community.

The more businesses work together and operate as a team, the better. Things work better that way. We've already seen the benefit of that. Knaresborough's definitely been busier in the summer than it has been in recent years.

Best and worst things about running a business from Knaresborough?

The best is that it's such a fantastic community – very supportive. You can walk round the town and it's a very friendly environment. It's not anonymous – it's a proper community.

The worst? I can't think of a single thing.

What are your business plans for the future?

We're really comfortable where we are. We're constantly trying to be the best and we were even named the UK's best beer pub at the Great British Pub Awards last week. We're already feeling the knock-on effect of that – we're often hitting capacity earlier than usual.

We're getting to the point where we can't physically fit any more people in, so we're also creating another room to make sure our regulars still have somewhere to sit.

What do you like to do in your time off?

What's that?! At the moment, we live on site with our children, who are 19 months and three years old. So any time I'm not doing pub-related stuff, it's all about hanging out with them. They're just starting to play together, and I don't want to miss any of that.

Best places to eat and drink locally? 

The Half Moon is always a good spot. They've got a great beer selection and it's perfectly looked after. The landlord is very good at creating an atmosphere that makes you feel welcome.

Six Poor Folk is good too. The energy they have over there is a nice alternative to what we offer, and they serve a cracking pint of Guinness.

The General Tarleton has just reopened under Tommy Banks. I've been in a couple of times, and what they've created is an absolutely wonderful space.

Further afield, the Little Ale House in Harrogate is always good.

If you know someone in business in the Harrogate district – including Ripon, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Masham and Nidderdale – and you'd like to suggest them for this feature, drop us a line at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.