Daughters follow mothers in ringing endorsement for Belle

In July 2024, The Belle and Lion (Sheerness) celebrated a decade since first opening its doors.
Pub manager Kelly has been at the helm for those 10 years, along with several staff members who are original team members.
Part-time bar associates Zoey and Claire, with Kelly, have formed a great friendship, having worked together for 10 years and they now have a further bond at work.
Each of their daughters are also now working at The Belle and Lion, following their mums into the job.
Kelly’s daughter Amelia (just 16) joined the team as a floor associate at the beginning of July, having just completed her GCSEs and is also now studying A levels in criminology, English literature and applied science.
Kelly, who has worked for the company for 22 years and was previously pub manager at The Paper Moon (Dartford) (no longer a Wetherspoon pub) for seven years, said: “Amelia has lived and breathed Wetherspoon, through me, all her life and has taken to it like a duck to water.
“The company is great to work for and, if we think it is also good enough for our kids, then it must be good.”
Zoey’s daughter, Tamuka, and Claire’s daughter, Madison, also both started as 16-year-old floor associates.
Tamuka has been on the team for three years and has now progressed to bar team leader.
Bar associate Madison joined two years ago, but has now moved to Greenwich to attend university, transferring to The Gate Clock (Greenwich).
Kelly continued: “The mums and daughters occasionally work the same shifts at the pub, and it is fantastic to see the next generation coming through.
“Zoey, Claire and I have been friends, as well as colleagues, for 10 years – and the girls have grown up together as friends, so it’s lovely to see them working together.”
There are also two other staff members who were on the original team, as bar associates, a decade ago, who are still working at the pub as part of the management team.
Shift managers Chris and Sophie met in those first weeks at the new pub and have now been together for 10 years.
The couple have two children and have recently got engaged.