From the Bar to the Books: How Conor is Turning The Black Horse into a Local Favourite in Aldgate

Conor spent nearly a decade working across London's hospitality scene before taking over The Black Horse in Aldgate about a year ago. W What began as a chance to make his mark on a local pub evolved into a community favourite. Today, the venue hosts comedy nights, live music and pop-up food collaborations, attracting regulars and new faces alike. We caught up with Conor to talk about how he creates that atmosphere and why having a payment system that works smoothly matters for a busy local pub.

The Black Horse is on the edge of the City and draws all kinds of people: office workers dropping by after work, locals looking for familiar faces, and regulars who stay late. Conor has kept the classic pub essentials- good drinks, a friendly atmosphere, and easy conversation, but added something new. There’s an upstairs events space, guest chefs, and a live music and comedy lineup that keeps people coming back. "People still want that social atmosphere you only really get in a pub," he says. "But they also want experiences and something happening when they come out."

Why seamless payments are at the heart of independent pub life

When the bar is crowded and people are waiting, everything must move quickly. If payments are slow, the terminal loses connection, or a staff member struggles with a manual transaction, it doesn’t just delay one person; it slows down the whole bar. At The Black Horse, where the after-work rush can turn into a late-night crowd, Conor and his team can’t afford that slowdown.

"When the bar's packed, everything needs to work quickly and reliably," says Conor. "If payments slow down, service slows down, and customers notice it straight away. In a late-night venue, especially, you need something staff can rely on without thinking about it."

Before switching to Zeller, the team tried other providers, but Zeller’s rates, fast payouts, and reliability made the choice straightforward. Daily payouts have been especially helpful according to Conor. “Our cash flow moves quickly, so settling payments overnight instead of waiting up to 3 days helps me keep things running smoothly”, he says.The Zeller Dashboard gives Conor a clear view of the pub’s performance without switching between systems. With revenue coming from the bar, events and food nights, he can quickly see what’s selling, which nights are busiest, and where to focus stock orders — all from one place. Zeller Expense Cards have also simplified managing staff spending, keeping costs organised and giving Conor control over the pub’s expenses.

"In hospitality, especially late at night, you need to know you can actually get hold of someone if there's ever an issue." - Conor Gill

Built for late nights

The Black Horse isn't your average after-work pub. With comedy nights, live music, and an upstairs events space that has quickly built a following, the venue regularly runs well into the early hours. Conor aims to push that further with a 4am licence in the pipeline.

Running a late-night venue brings its own operational demands. Staff need tools they can learn quickly without training. Systems must stay reliable under pressure, and when something goes wrong at midnight, waiting until morning for support isn't an option. 

Zeller's 24/7 support means Conor isn't left waiting until morning. "In hospitality, especially late at night, you need to know you can actually get hold of someone if there's ever an issue", Conor says. 

Zeller's Mini POS also made a real difference behind the bar. Staff can tap drinks and products on the screen without remembering prices or entering amounts manually, keeping service moving even on the busiest nights. With long battery life and wireless connectivity, terminals can move freely around the venue without being tethered to a fixed point. This is useful when the bar is busy and staff cover the floor, events space, and everywhere in between. "Behind a busy bar, staff can just tap the drink directly on the screen," says Conor. "It's been especially helpful with new staff because it hardly requires any training to pick up."

A local worth staying for

The Black Horse has come a long way in a year. What Conor took on as an opportunity has become a genuine fixture in Aldgate, a pub with a proper local feel, a growing reputation for events, and a late-night energy that sets it apart from the area's other options. The next chapter is already taking shape, with more live music, more comedy nights, and a 4am licence that would cement its place as one of the area's go-to late-night venues.

Behind all of that is an operation that needs to run without friction. Reliable terminals, a Mini POS that any member of staff can pick up in minutes, daily payouts that keep cash flow moving, and 24/7 support for the moments that can't wait until morning. For Conor, that's exactly what Zeller is there to provide, "When everything behind the bar just works, we can actually focus on giving people a great night. That's what this is all about.".

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