Relative success as siblings steer the ship in Liverpool

Pub manager Terry has worked for Wetherspoon for 14 years, managing The Childwall Fiveways Hotel (Liverpool) for the past three years.

Terry manages a young team of 60 staff and could be forgiven for describing his team as a ‘real family’.

Among the staff are six sets of siblings, one set of cousins and three couples who all met while working for the company.

Terry, who worked at The Thomas Frost (Liverpool) for 10 years before taking over at The Childwall Fiveways Hotel in August 2021, said: “Many pubs claim to be community pubs, but we really are, with so many family connections – and it works really well for us.”

Terry added: “I’m only in my early 30s. yet am often the oldest on shift.”

He continued: “Most of the siblings are still at school or studying at university, so work part time with us.

“We have really good relationships with all of the families, with many of the parents also regular customers.

“The siblings all started as associates, with several of the younger family members following their older siblings into their job, so it has worked out really well for everyone.”

Milly met her now partner, bar shift leader Patrick, at the pub, while shift managers Danny and Fionn also met at work.

Shift managers Joe and Emma also met while working for the company and were married before joining Terry’s team.

Terry concluded: “It really is a really close-knit family… a bit like The Waltons.”