Crossword Genius

Many see around back of older pub (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hostelry

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'pub' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'many see around back of older' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'many' could be 'host' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'host' is found in the answer.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for hostelry that I've seen before include "Shyer lot in old inn" , "Provider of accommodation" , "Old word for an inn" , "bar?" , "Inn (arch., joc.)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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