Set in Stone: Staff in no rush to leave POSTE pub

At every level in the company, Wetherspoon is naturally proud of the long-serving staff members among its employee ranks.

Wetherspoon’s pub managers have been employed for an average of 14 years, although many have been with the company for 20, 25 or 30 plus years.

The Poste of Stone (Stone) has several long-serving staff members on the team, with kitchen manager Odion Ogba leading the way, marking 27 years’ service for the company in July.

Known to everyone as Paul, he started work with Wetherspoon as a cleaner, at J.J. Moon’s (now closed), moving to The Tichenham Inn, where he worked for 11 years and progressed to kitchen manager.

Paul, who joined the team at The Poste of Stone nine years ago, said: “If I didn’t love my job, I would not have been here for so many years. It has been a long journey, but I have never looked back.”

Paul’s kitchen team includes Laura, who started as a kitchen associate at the pub 17 years ago and is now a kitchen shift leader.

Laura, who has always worked at The Poste of Stone, although has helped out temporarily on occasion at other pubs in the area, said: “It’s a good job and provides good job security. We have a great team.

“Paul is good to work with and everyone gets on well.”

In September, shift manager Andrew will mark 19 years’ service with Wetherspoon.

He started in 2005 as a bar associate at The Poste of Stone, before several moves and career progressions – including at The Picture House, The Old Swan, The Thomas Botfield, The Wheatsheaf and The Acorn Inn.

Andrew returned to The Poste of Stone in 2015 as a shift manager, where he has worked since.

Andrew’s fellow shift manager Jennie also clocked up 11 years’ service, earlier this year, having joined the company initially in March 2013 as a bar associate.

● There are 20 Wetherspoon employees who have worked for the company for more than 30 years.

● Working for the company for more than 20 years are 632 staff.

● There are 3,895 employees who have been with Wetherspoon for more than 10 years, with 11,066 staff having worked for the company for more than five years.