Lavender...Good advice about downsizing before leaping into a new life. Unless you are incredibly lucky/smart/whatever, almost surely your new job will be less lucrative than what you have now, for a while, a long time, maybe forever. So it's only wise to prepare for that, so you wont be discouraged by the money thing.

That is important, because money is inescapably important. And not having "enough" can make life awfully difficult. So being able to clearly and honestly determine how much is necessary for a lifestyle that suits you is the first order of business. Perhaps you could keep one foot in the door, work at the job you get well-paid for part-time, while getting experience with the job that makes you happy.

My husband and I left highly lucrative jobs in the computer industry in mid-career to become craftsmen. We worked long hours, had no "days off." We gave up vacations, dinners out, impulsive shopping, but came to feel most of those things were done to make us feel better about a life we weren't really happy with.

Though we lived poor by middle-class, urban standards, we never regretted leaving while still young enough to really enjoy ourselves. And there is a lot of satisfaction in learning to live lightly on the planet, while doing something that is deeply satisfying. Health, or the lack of it, more to the point, can a real stumbling block, however, esp. in the US, so be sure to give some thought to insurance.

I've never owned a pub (tho I've always had a secret desire to be a bartender), but I've been in several where dangerous over-imbibing and drunken fights were not tolerated...a lot depends on the owner/bartender, and the kind of place he/she wants, and works hard to maintain.

Living with a job you hate is very tiring...saps all your strength, leaving no room for good things to happen. Go for what you want...with self-knowledge and patience.