For pubs, bars & hospitality
The pub has always been where people bring what they can't carry alone.
Regulars lean on the bar and tell you what's really going on. Someone's marriage has broken down. They're going to court and they don't know what happens next. They can't afford a solicitor. They feel completely alone in it.
You can't fix it. But you can point them somewhere that might — and that's more than most people do.
Find a McKenzie FriendWhat is a McKenzie Friend?
A McKenzie Friend is someone who goes to family court with you. They sit beside you during hearings, help you understand what's in your documents, and make sure you're not walking into the courtroom blind. They're not a solicitor — they can't give legal advice — but they know the process, and they mean you're not facing it alone.
Most people going through divorce or family court have never heard of them. They think it's either an expensive solicitor or nothing. And that assumption leaves a lot of people walking into court completely unprepared.
Pubs are where people find out things they needed to know. You could be part of that.
The one thing you can say
You don't need to know anything about family law. You don't need to get involved in the situation. This is just one thing worth knowing:
"Have you looked into a McKenzie Friend? They go to court with you, help you with the paperwork — it's not the same as a solicitor but it's a damn sight better than going in there on your own. There's a directory where you can find one."
familycourtbridge.org/find-your-support
You're not giving legal advice. You're not getting involved. You're just telling someone that a door exists — which is more than they knew five minutes ago.
Share this from your pub's Facebook page
Copy the post below and share it. Your regulars share your posts — and this might reach exactly the right person.
🍺 Something from us at [pub name] — because we hear a lot in here, and we want this one to reach the right person.
If you're going through a divorce or separation and feel like you can't afford any help — we want you to know about something called a McKenzie Friend.
They're not a solicitor. But they can come to court with you, help you understand your paperwork, and make sure you're not facing it completely alone. They cost a fraction of what a solicitor costs. Most people have never heard of them.
You can find one at familycourtbridge.org/find-your-support
Share this. You never know who needs to see it tonight. 💙
Add your own voice to it if you want — just keep the link in there.
Why pubs are part of this
You are trusted
Your regulars talk to you. That's not nothing — that's the relationship that changes things.
People open up here
The pub is where people say things they haven't said at home. That honesty matters.
Your reach is real
A post from your pub page lands differently to a post from a legal website. Share it and watch it travel.
Bridge the Gap — Further Reading