Long-serving Gareth happy to be with Glass Blower ‘family’

Towards the end of 2023, shift leader Gareth celebrated 20 years’ service with Wetherspoon.

He’d started as a 22-year-old bar associate at the newly opened venue The Winter Seam, which had launched in November 2003 as a Lloyds No.1 bar.

Gareth, born and bred in Castleford, recalled: “I had worked at bars in the town centre and thought that I would apply for the new Wetherspoon, the first pub at Xscape, to give it a go.

“I had some experience, although at spit-and-sawdust pubs and nightclubs, so this was a completely different environment.”

Gareth spent two years at The Winter Seam, progressing to team leader and working with pub manager Sarah for the first time.

He moved to The Glass Blower, where he soon stepped up to the role of shift leader. He’s spent the past 18 years at the pub.

Gareth continued: “I have been here a long time and have been working with Sarah again, for the past 10 years, when she took over here.

“Sarah is one of the best managers to have been at the pub, turning it around into the success it is today, which is lovely.”

Other long-serving members of the team at The Glass Blower include bar associate Chelsea and cleaner Brian (15 years each) and shift manager Katy (seven years).

Gareth, 42, said: “We are a really close-knit team and work well together, a happy little household (at work) and one big work family. “It is lovely working here.”