So how can the pub owner be better for trying and failing rather than not trying at all?
He made a bad business decision and by plowing his saving into it, made an even worse decision.
Knowing when to quit is as important as knowing when and how to try.
Running a business with employees isn't for everyone but some get caught up in the need to expand based on what they think they want 'from the business' and destroy a perfectly good one man, or one woman, business.