Insights
Straight answers on fees, tills and getting a fair deal.
No brochures, no jargon, no commission talk. Just what 40 years behind the bar and across the trade has taught me about card machines, EPOS systems and the contracts nobody reads.
More from the trade
Comparison · 9 min read
What card machine fees really cost: Dojo, Teya, Square and SumUp compared
The four providers everyone asks about, compared like for like. The headline rates, the catches each one buries, and which suits which kind of venue.
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How-to · 8 min read
How to read your merchant statement (and spot what you're overpaying)
Your statement has seven moving parts and one of them hides most of the overcharging. Here's each line, what it should be, and the red flags.
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Buyer's guide · 8 min read
The best card machine for a small business in the UK (2026)
There's no single best machine, only the right one for how you trade. Picks by scenario, from sole trader to busy pub.
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Sector guide · 8 min read
EPOS systems for pubs: what actually matters behind the bar
Speed on a Friday rush, table tabs, card-machine integration, support that answers the phone. What counts when you're actually pulling pints.
Read more Comparison · 7 min read
The cheapest card machine for a sole trader (and the catch with the free ones)
Free and cheap readers make their money back somewhere. The real total cost, and how to work out what you'll actually pay.
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Provider reviews · 8 min read
Takepayments, Teya and Paymentsense: an independent take for UK hospitality
What each provider is good at, the common complaints, and who they actually suit, from someone not on commission.
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From the podcast · 4 min read
Why community pubs still matter
Notes from the first episode of Behind the Bar, in conversation with Kelly at The Ebberley Arms. VAT, energy bills, and why proper pubs are a way of life.
Read moreNot sure where your setup stands?
Send me your statement or tell me what you're running, and I'll tell you straight what I'd change. No commission, no contract to sign.
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