I've just returned to my home town of Beverley in the East Riding of Yorkshire, after two months overseas on business, and was very saddened to hear that my local pub's Landlady is leaving!!!
The pub known as 'Nellies' (White Horse Inn) has been my hostelry of choice in my home town for a number of years.
The Landlady Anna (I don't think she uses a second name) has been running the place for about six or seven years. According to my friend who knows her better than I, she has been with the Samuel Smiths Brewery for some 29 years!!!
I know from visiting that she has always put a lot of effort in, making the place her own, and I would imagine a lot at her own expense. I also know from an earlier conversation (late last year I think) that she was quite happy to stay running Nellies until her retirement.
So why is she leaving? I asked my friend and he told me this:
"She has been offered a job at a pub in Lincoln called the Strugglers Inn. She would not have taken up the offer but for a couple of reasons. The change in brewery policy towards music, entertainment, and food. The second reason being the uncertainty of future job security in light of recent company dismissals."
Now all of this makes perfect sense. A few years back, the world famous gas-lit Nellies had a variety of music and entertainment. This included a Jazz evening, folk club, and a pub pianist and much more. Anna had also secured a wedding license for the upstairs function room, which seemed very popular. The younger generation seemed to enjoy the modern juke box music in the adjoining pool room.
All of this now sadly gone. Beverley is world renowned for it's roots in medieval music and minstrels which is depicted in reliefs at our local Minster and St Marys Church. So it seems somewhat ironic that despite the enduring traditions of music in the town, in all cultures of life, the Smiths Brewery want it banned. And so went the weddings too. I was told that even singing happy birthday at any Smiths Brewery owned venue, would warrant a removal from the premises. So no chance at all then of singing Roll Out The Barrel!!!
Anna used to provide a beautiful range of meals and snacks, which I always looked forward to on my return home from overseas business. I was very disappointed to see all of the previous menu options replaced with a brewery-wide standard menu. I have tried two separate meals, and I won't be eating any more of them. I'm afraid they are rather bland and the type of food I prefer is no longer catered for.
Regrettably, my past loyalties to Nellies at lunchtime has now lapsed. I will now be dining elsewhere.
Whilst I still visit Nellies in the evening for the time being, I fear this too may soon become a thing of the past. I am led to believe (and even more so after visiting this site) that things are going to get much worse.
On a number of occasions, I've noticed a build up of used glasses around Nellies which is very unwelcoming. And the poor staff and Anna seem to struggle at some times to keep on top of things, due to staff shortages. I have been told by my friend in the know, that it is due to the brewery reducing the number of allocated staffing hours per week. In which case, it would appear that the Smiths Brewery is further orchestrating it's increasing unpopularity.
Sooner or later it is going to have insufficient clientele to viably remain in business.
Whilst the brewery may own freehold 'Nellies', in the bigger scheme of things, they are only the caretakers of this unique and highly popular, listed building. And whilst I would compliment them on appearing to adequately and sympathetically retain the fabric and aesthetic of the place, they are eroding the buildings heart, namely its customers. The beast is dying!!!
It will be very sad to see Anna go. Loyal and experienced managers must be hard to replace. And I should know from my own company's experience. We place a lot of value on our commercially effective personal. Something which any business should appreciate.
After my secretary found this website, and reading much of it's content, it looks like many are deciding to abandon ship before the ship sinks, or the Captain pushes them overboard into icy waters!!!
Anna's act will be a hard one to follow. And in the climate of the current regime, it is looking as if she may be replaced with less experience personnel who may possibly be under a great deal of pressure, for unfair recompense. And that I could imagine mean even more cluttered tables with unwashed glasses, and a return of the nastier element of people previously banned. And because of it's many rooms and cubbyholes, without sufficient staff to manage, I can see Nellies becoming a den for drugs and violence.
Maybe it's time for my friends and I who have enjoyed a pleasant cruise before the onset of this brewing storm - to man the life boats!!!
Note to Admin: You are providing an admirable service. Keep up the good work!!! I would like to make a monetary donation towards your costs. Please advise.
