diff --git a/backend/handlers/handle_auth.go b/backend/handlers/handle_auth.go
index d43974b..cd729a7 100644
--- a/backend/handlers/handle_auth.go
+++ b/backend/handlers/handle_auth.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 
 	"adam-french.co.uk/backend/models"
 	"github.com/gin-gonic/gin"
+	"github.com/golang-jwt/jwt/v5"
 	"golang.org/x/crypto/bcrypt"
 )
 
@@ -26,6 +27,28 @@ func (store *Store) AuthMiddlewear(ctx *gin.Context) {
 	ctx.Next()
 }
 
+func (store *Store) AdminMiddleware(ctx *gin.Context) {
+	claims, exists := ctx.Get("userClaims")
+	if !exists {
+		ctx.AbortWithStatusJSON(http.StatusUnauthorized, gin.H{"error": "unauthorized"})
+		return
+	}
+
+	mapClaims, ok := claims.(*jwt.MapClaims)
+	if !ok {
+		ctx.AbortWithStatusJSON(http.StatusUnauthorized, gin.H{"error": "invalid claims"})
+		return
+	}
+
+	admin, ok := (*mapClaims)["admin"].(bool)
+	if !ok || !admin {
+		ctx.AbortWithStatusJSON(http.StatusForbidden, gin.H{"error": "admin access required"})
+		return
+	}
+
+	ctx.Next()
+}
+
 func (store *Store) CheckToken(ctx *gin.Context) {
 	access_token, err := ctx.Cookie("access_token")
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/backend/handlers/handle_post.go b/backend/handlers/handle_post.go
index 283ea51..d660400 100644
--- a/backend/handlers/handle_post.go
+++ b/backend/handlers/handle_post.go
@@ -67,11 +67,6 @@ func (store *Store) CreatePost(ctx *gin.Context) {
 	}
 	userID := uint(userIDF)
 
-	if !(*claims)["admin"].(bool) {
-		ctx.JSON(http.StatusForbidden, gin.H{"error": "you are not admin :("})
-		return
-	}
-
 	// Create post
 	post := models.Post{Title: input.Title, Content: input.Content, AuthorID: userID}
 	tx := store.DB.Create(&post)
diff --git a/backend/handlers/handle_user.go b/backend/handlers/handle_user.go
index 27b53b4..99a1eba 100644
--- a/backend/handlers/handle_user.go
+++ b/backend/handlers/handle_user.go
@@ -19,21 +19,6 @@ type SetAdminInput struct {
 }
 
 func (store *Store) CreateUser(ctx *gin.Context) {
-	claimsVal, ok := ctx.Get("userClaims")
-	if !ok {
-		ctx.JSON(http.StatusUnauthorized, gin.H{"error": "user claims could not be found"})
-		return
-	}
-	claims, ok := claimsVal.(*jwt.MapClaims)
-	if !ok {
-		ctx.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": "invalid claims"})
-		return
-	}
-	if !(*claims)["admin"].(bool) {
-		ctx.JSON(http.StatusForbidden, gin.H{"error": "admin access required"})
-		return
-	}
-
 	var input UserCredentials
 	if err := ctx.ShouldBindBodyWithJSON(&input); err != nil {
 		ctx.JSON(http.StatusBadRequest, err.Error())
@@ -116,11 +101,6 @@ func (store *Store) SetUserAdmin(ctx *gin.Context) {
 		ctx.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": "invalid claims"})
 		return
 	}
-	if !(*claims)["admin"].(bool) {
-		ctx.JSON(http.StatusForbidden, gin.H{"error": "admin access required"})
-		return
-	}
-
 	callerIDF, ok := (*claims)["id"].(float64)
 	if !ok {
 		ctx.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": "invalid user id in claims"})
diff --git a/backend/main.go b/backend/main.go
index fb038bd..a7bd4e7 100644
--- a/backend/main.go
+++ b/backend/main.go
@@ -71,33 +71,34 @@ func main() {
 	store := handlers.Store{DB: db, SpotifyAuth: spotifyAuth, SpotifyClient: spotifyClient, ClaudeClient: claudeClient, Auth: auth, Notes: notes}
 
 	protected := r.Group("/", store.AuthMiddlewear)
+	admin := r.Group("/", store.AuthMiddlewear, store.AdminMiddleware)
 
 	// FAVORITES
 	r.GET("/favorites", store.GetFavorites)
-	protected.POST("/favorites", store.CreateFavorite)
+	admin.POST("/favorites", store.CreateFavorite)
 
 	// ROWING
 	r.GET("/rowing", store.GetRowing)
-	protected.POST("/rowing", store.CreateRowing)
+	admin.POST("/rowing", store.CreateRowing)
 
 	// ACTIVITIES
 	r.GET("/activity", store.GetActivity)
-	protected.POST("/activity", store.CreateActivity)
+	admin.POST("/activity", store.CreateActivity)
 
 	// POSTS
 	r.GET("/posts", store.GetPosts)
-	protected.POST("/posts", store.CreatePost)
+	admin.POST("/posts", store.CreatePost)
 	r.GET("/posts/:id", store.GetPost)
-	protected.PUT("/posts/:id", store.UpdatePost)
-	protected.DELETE("/posts/:id", store.DeletePost)
+	admin.PUT("/posts/:id", store.UpdatePost)
+	admin.DELETE("/posts/:id", store.DeletePost)
 
 	// USERS
 	r.GET("/user/:id", store.GetUser)
-	protected.PUT("/user/:id", store.UpdateUser)
-	protected.DELETE("/user/:id", store.DeleteUser)
+	admin.PUT("/user/:id", store.UpdateUser)
+	admin.DELETE("/user/:id", store.DeleteUser)
 	r.GET("/user", store.GetUsers)
-	protected.POST("/user", store.CreateUser)
-	protected.PATCH("/user/:id/admin", store.SetUserAdmin)
+	admin.POST("/user", store.CreateUser)
+	admin.PATCH("/user/:id/admin", store.SetUserAdmin)
 
 	// AUTH
 	r.POST("/auth/login", store.Login)