Kirstin congratulated for long and strong service

Pub manager Kirstin Nicholls is pictured (second left) receiving her long-service certificate and flowers from general manager Will Fotheringham (left) and area manager Sarah Leather.

Kirstin has managed The Sedge Lynn (Chorlton-cum-Hardy) since September 2013.

Originally from Newbury, Berkshire, Kirstin started her Wetherspoon career as a bar associate at Ice Barque (Grimsby) (no longer a Wetherspoon pub).

She recalled: “We had recently moved to the area and I didn’t know anyone, so I decided to get a job in the biggest pub in the town.

“At the time, I didn’t think that it would end up being a long-term thing, yet, within a couple of months of joining the company, I realised that it could be a good career.”

Kirstin spent two and a half years at Ice Barque before heading south, spending six months at The Union Rooms (Plymouth) and progressing to team leader, before stepping up to shift leader at The Ford Madox Brown (Manchester).

Kirstin reported: “My first pub as manager was The Milson Rhodes (Didsbury) (no longer a Wetherspoon pub), when it newly opened in March 2010, where I spent two and a half years.

“Wetherspoon then newly opened The Kingfisher (Poynton) in December 2012, where I spent eight months as pub manager, before coming to The Sedge Lynn 11 years ago.”

Kirstin continued: “I have now worked for the company for more than half of my life and wouldn’t still be here if Wetherspoon were not a good employer.”

She concluded: “I have also now been at The Sedge Lynn so long that the pub has become a part of me.

“With many of the old regulars a huge part of that, it is a happy place to work.”

James reflects on 25-year journey

Shift manager James Hayes, who works at The Mardi Gras (The Trafford Centre, Manchester), is pictured (second right) receiving his 25 years’ service award.

Hailing from Salford, he started his Wetherspoon career in 1999 as a kitchen associate at The Moon Under Water (Manchester), his first-ever job.

James admitted: “It was just a job in a pub at first, but I quickly realised it could be my career path. So, here I am, a quarter of a century later.”

Two years after joining the company, James moved to the, then, recently opened (July 2001) Manchester city-centre pub The Paramount.

James recalled: “I spent 10 years there, with Mark and Natalie Hodgson as my pub managers. I progressed to supervisor (shift leader) and then kitchen manager.

“Then, The Bull’s Head Hotel (Walkden) newly opened (January 2012), so I spent a year there as kitchen manager, before returning to the city centre as kitchen manager at Wetherspoons

(Piccadilly, Manchester).”

James then opted for a job change and spent six months at The Waterhouse (Manchester), as a shift manager front of house.

He said: “I wanted a new challenge, a change of scene and to learn different aspects of the job, so moved out of the kitchen.”

In 2015, The Mardi Gras was looking for help with its kitchen team, so James answered the call.

He spent two years as kitchen manager again, before reverting to his current front-of-house role at the pub.

James continued: “Wetherspoon is a fantastic company to work for.

“Like every job, there are always ups and downs, but the good days always outweigh the bad.

“Every day is a different challenge, and I like what I do.

“The company moves forward with the times continually, which always makes things new and interesting.”

,James concluded: “I have worked with some amazing people and fantastic managers.

“Without them, I wouldn’t still be here 25 years on.”