How Emma made a splash in Mare Pool

Pub manager Emma has been running The Mare Pool since June 2023 and is enjoying success at her first pub as manager.

Originally from Sutton Coldfield, Emma joined the company 14 years ago as a 16-year-old part-time floor associate.

Emma recalled: “I was still at school and wanted a Saturday job, so worked at The Bottle of Sack from noon until 4pm, clearing tables and serving food. I never imagined that a weekly four-hour part-time shift would become my career.”

When Emma left school, she went on to study at university in Sheffield, successfully completing her business degree and graduating in 2015.

She explained: “I continued to work for Wetherspoon while at university, with two or three shifts per week at The Benjamin Huntsman and The Francis Newton, as well as back at The Bottle of Sack during the summer and Christmas holidays.

“Once I graduated, I had no clue what I wanted to do for a career, so took up a full-time role at The Bottle of Sack, being quickly promoted to team leader, shift leader within three months and then shift-manager level in 2016.

It was then I thought ‘I can do this’ – and haven’t looked back.”

Emma stepped up as relief manager on a couple of occasions, at The Bottle of Sack, when the pub manager was off and transferred in May 2023 to The Mare Pool, originally as a holding manager.

Emma continued: “When the position became available, I applied (along with around 14 other candidates) – not thinking I would get it, but I did.

I thought I would be holding the pub for only a couple of weeks, but here I am.”

Emma took over at The Mare Pool officially in June 2023 and is continually growing in her role.

She confirmed: “Things are going well, and the management team, already here, has been a great help.

We have gained a five-star hygiene rating, which is so important, and the pub has improved.

We have also been included in CAMRA’s publication The Good Beer Guide for two consecutive years – and I’m proud of that.”

Emma said: “I do enjoy watching that improvement – of not only the business, but the staff too, as well as achieving my own personal goals.”

Emma, 30, revealed: “I used to be quite nervous and found it difficult talking to people. This job has definitely boosted my confidence and I’m now more outgoing than I used to be.”

Emma concluded: “I would like to thank pub manager Dave, at The Bottle of Sack, who didn’t know me at all when I returned from university.

He saw my potential, trained me well and encouraged me to progress further.”