FRANCESCA MAKES SEVERAL STOPS ON 20-YEAR JOURNEY

Kitchen manager Francesca Williams is pictured (centre) with general manager Rob Gibson and area manager Emma Simpson.

Francesca celebrated 20 years’ service with Wetherspoon at The Iron Duke (Wellington), but has since moved to The Powder Monkey (Exmouth), nearer to her home in Exeter.

Francesca started in 2005 at The Imperial (Exeter) as a bar associate, where she progressed to team leader in eight years.

During her time at The Imperial, she also had both her children, daughter Haidee (now 19 and working at The Iron Duke as a kitchen team leader) and son Myles (17).

Francesca said: “It was good working at The Imperial. I enjoyed my time there, and the job was very accommodating while my children were young.”

In July 2013, Francesca moved to the newly opened The Star Inn (Honiton).

She recalled: “I helped with the opening training and took on more responsibilities as a shift leader, still front of house, as my children were a bit older.

“I went back and forth at Honiton, from front of house to the kitchen, becoming kitchen manager there in 2017.

“I had a lovely time at The Star Inn, staying for seven years – and that pub still feels like home.”

Francesca continued: “I was then asked to help out at The Chevalier Inn (Exeter) for its busy Christmas season and ended up staying just over a year – two Christmases in fact!”

In October 2022, she moved again to The Iron Duke, where she worked for just over three years and marked her 20th anniversary with the company.

Francesca concluded: “I always like new challenges and working with new teams, training and improving. I like the challenge of a change and meeting new people.

“Unlike some people, I couldn’t have worked for 20 years at one pub, but I love what I do.

“I have been lucky with my area managers and pub managers. The company has been very good to me… and I have a lovely job.”