The Flying Squirrel Pub was born from a simple idea: create a place where locals and visitors alike can relax, have a great meal, and feel at home the moment they walk through the door.
Owner Bill Osborne moved to the Asheville area in 2004 after being transferred here by the company he would spend 26 years with. Asheville quickly became home. Bill raised both of his children through Buncombe County Schools, built deep roots in the community, and eventually retired from corporate America in January 2024.
And like any completely rational retiree, he decided to open a pub.
After originally opening as part of a franchise system in October 2023, Bill realized he wanted the freedom to build something more personal, a place with its own personality, its own sense of humor, and a stronger connection to the community it serves. The transition to The Flying Squirrel Pub wasn’t just a rebrand. It was a chance to create something that genuinely reflected the people behind it and the guests who fill it every day.
Find Bill around the pub one day and he will be happy to tell you the story of the new name, making a short story long, like only he can do.
Today, The Flying Squirrel Pub is proudly independent, locally driven, and centered around the things we love most: smoked meats, creative comfort food, cold drinks, entertainment, and a relaxed atmosphere where everyone feels welcome. Whether you’re grabbing dinner with the family after a ballgame, meeting friends for trivia or music bingo, looking for a place to grab a beer with Fido after a long hike, or just looking for a place that doesn’t take itself too seriously, we want you to feel like you belong here.
Being independent means every detail matters, from the menu and the music to the décor on the walls and the jokes on social media. It gives us the freedom to try new ideas, have a little fun, and create a pub experience that feels uniquely ours. (Seriously, take a look around. The décor alone should tell you we’re not a corporate chain anymore.)
At the end of the day, The Flying Squirrel Pub is about good food, good people, and building something authentic to Asheville and to us. We’re grateful to be part of this community, and we’re glad you’re here.
