SIX OF THE BEST IN NORTHUMBERLAND

Managers and team members from pubs across Northumberland are pictured receiving award certificates for their long service with Wetherspoon.

Pictured (left to right) are shift manager Steph Brew (The Forum, Hexham), shift leader Marie Hill (The Rohan Kanhai, Ashington), shift manager Scott Forster (The Red Lion, Bedlington), area manager Lauren Bell and pub manager Helen Wailes (The Red Lion, Bedlington).

Also receiving a certificate for 10 years’ service, yet not pictured, was pub manager Johnny Crawford (The Electrical Wizard, Morpeth).

Lauren became an area manager for all the pubs concerned almost three years ago, having started in 2010 as a part-time bar associate at The Mile Castle (Newcastle), while studying business at university.

She progressed through the ranks to become a shift manager in 2015 at The Quayside (Newcastle), taking her first pub-manager role in 2018 at The Wallaw (Blyth).

Lauren said: “The progression opportunities and great support are the main things which have made me stay with the company these 15 years.”

Helen started in 2010 as a kitchen associate at The Red Lion (Bedlington), gaining promotion by May 2012 to kitchen team leader and kitchen shift leader, stepping up in September 2013 to kitchen manager.

After nine years in the kitchen, she decided to work towards pub management and was promoted in December 2022 to pub manager at The Red Lion.

Helen said: “I’ve spent all of my career at The Red Lion, although I have helped with cover in numerous pubs.”

She added: “I’ve stayed with Wetherspoon because of the stability which it provides and the progression opportunities across the company. The flexibility of shifts has also benefited my family life.

“Those I’ve met along the way have been great, some of whom are now great friends.”

Johnny started with the company in 2015 as a shift manager at The Grand Electric Hall (Spennymoor), transferring six months later to The Water House (Durham) (no longer a Wetherspoon pub) where he spent three years.

He worked at The Harry Clasper (Whickham), The Sir William de Wessyngton (Washington) and The Company Row (Consett), before taking on his first pub manager role in October 2024 at The Electrical Wizard.

Johnny said: “I’ve been with the company for so many years because of the benefits and company culture which Wetherspoon offers.”

Scott began his Wetherspoon career in 2010 as a bar associate at The Mile Castle, progressing in 2012 to team leader.

He moved to The High Main (Byker) in 2013, progressing by 2016 to shift manager, before working at various pubs across the region – front of house, as well as in the kitchen.

Scott, who joined the team at The Red Lion in 2025, said: “I have stayed with Wetherspoon for so long because of the stability of the job and the company.

“The flexibility of the shift patterns fit around my family life and I’ve met some great people at every pub I’ve worked at over the years.”

Steph has worked at the same pub, The Forum, for a decade, having started in 2015 as a part-time bar associate.

She quickly progressed to team leader and shift leader after a year, before working her way up through the shift-manager levels.

Steph stepped up to pub manager in December 2024, a role she carried out for 18 months, before stepping back to shift manager.

Steph said: “The stability of the job, the progression possibilities and the day-to-day variety have kept me with the company for so long.

“No day is the same – and I learn something new all of the time.”

Marie started in 2010 as a bar associate at The Fire Station (Whitley Bay).

She was there for two years before transferring to her current pub, The Rohan Kanhai, where she has progressed through the ranks to shift leader.

Marie said: “I love the community feel in the pub and enjoy helping to raise funds for the company’s great charity – Young Lives vs Cancer.”