Inflatable pub business, Air of the Dog, was created by Richard Martin from Gravesend in June 2020. His dad wanted a bevvy when all the pubs were shut during the height of the lockdown and suggested that his son Martin got an inflatable version.

He put it on Facebook and it “snowballed from there”. The new-found entrepreneur bought the inflatable pubs one after the other once the previous one was paid off. Clients include The Only Way is Essex and Love Island’s Dani Dyer.

“It feels amazing to have gone through all this with my business – from starting during a pandemic to now see how much we’ve grown during this time,” he told Kent Online.

“To anyone who wants to start a small business like us, my advice is to get the foundations in place, do something that you know. I’ve worked in bars before and I wanted to start my own business. So as long as you’ve got the knowledge and the support around you then go for it because it’s one of the best decisions that I’ve made.”

Air of the Dog offers dry hire and event bars, but they can source extras like kegs and customised signage, portaloos, disco lights and signage, pub benches, double fridge, a Slush Puppie machine, candy floss and a pick ‘n’ mix stand.

The pubs travel across the UK.