Not much rest for Recep after 14 years in charge

In August, pub manager Recep celebrated 23 years’ service with Wetherspoon.

He took over in 2010 as pub manager at The Pommelers Rest (Tower Bridge, London) and has many long-serving staff members on his team.

Among Recep’s staff are two fellow countrymen, whose connections go back further than their Wetherspoon careers together.

Recep revealed: “Shift manager Berkay has been working with me for almost eight years, while kitchen shift leader Kagan has worked with me for almost 13 years.

“Coincidentally, we all went to the same school, back home in Türkiye, although we weren’t friends then. We had our first conversation in the UK.”

Originally from the coastal resort of Fethiye, in Türkiye, Recep came to the UK in October 2000 for a six-month visit to study and improve his English.

He eventually studied English for two years, through to advanced level.

Recep said: “My English teacher was a Wetherspoon customer – and it was she who encouraged me to ask about working for the company.

“I had previous experience working in many hotels and bars in Türkiye and had studied tourism and hotel management at home, so I took her advice.”

Recep started at Wetherspoons in Bromley (now called The Richmal Crompton), before moving to The Milan Bar (Croydon) (now closed), as well as working at three other Wetherspoon pubs in Croydon, before arriving at The Pommelers Rest.

Recep’s wife, shift manager Viktorija, is also among the long-serving team members at the pub, with 11 years’ service.

Recep, 44, said: “Viktorija also studied tourism and hotel management in her home country of Lithuania, having previously worked for Tiger Tiger here in London, but I managed to persuade her to join Wetherspoon with me.

“We have now been working together for 11 years and make a good team at work and at home.”

Among the other long-serving team members at The Pommelers Rest are shift manager Darryl (13 years), kitchen shift leader Vincenzo, kitchen team leader Mohamed and kitchen associate Shahidur (nine years each) and shift manager Heibe (seven years).