Yes there is a difference between a publican and a victualler. There were three basic types of sellers of alcohol:
Beer Seller or Beer Shop Keeper - was licensed to sell only beer, sometimes home brewed especially in rural locations.
Publican - licenced to sell beer, spirits and wines.
Victualler or Licenced Victualler - as a Publican but also licenced to sell food.
The licence holder was responsible for the running of the premises, its success or failure! He/she may have delegated that responsibility to a manager especially in a town where he/she may have been licensed for several premises.
In rural locations or small hamlet/villages towns the Licensed Victualler may have had an establishment that was a sort of coaching inn on a small scale hence selling food. Thanks for asking that question, last year I researched all the licence holders for all the 40+ premises in Littlehampton and that difference didn't occur to me but now I think about it those premises that were associated with coaching were run by Licensed Victuallers, the other sizeable premises by Publicans and all the 'back street' premises by Beer sellers etc.
It would be worth trying to find trade directories of that period as they give a good indication as to size of the premises, generally if listed a sizeable place, if not a smaller place possibly run from the front room of their house. This might be a good starting point:
http://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16445coll4/hd/index.aspThere's also this link:
http://pubhistory.co.uk/Oxfordshire/GreatTew/FalklandArms.shtmlHope this helps.
