Floor associate Robert follows in family’s footsteps

Martin and Alison have been looking back on 25 years with Wetherspoon – a period which has latterly seen their son Robert join the company as well.

The couple started as joint pub managers at The Hope Tap on 7 September 1997. Martin had been working in another pub while Alison came from a restaurant background. Their complementary talents stood them in good stead as pub managers for Wetherspoon.

They worked at several pubs, including The Tim Bobbin,for seven years until 2010, when they took a step back to work as shift managers in various Manchester pubs.

Martin worked at Castle in the Air while Alison moved to nearby pub The Mardi Gras, each located in a shopping centre. They are still at their respective pub.

Martin said: “I’m very happy at Castle in the Air. I know the place, the customers and the team here well.

“It is a great joy to be able to teach younger people the skills they need and to nudge them in the right direction.

“I have shoes older than some of the people I work with.

“Wetherspoon is a real family company. We work together really well – and everyone helps everyone else. There is a lot of support.

“The pay and benefits are good – and there is flexibility, when you need it.”

Son Robert, 17, works with mum Alison at The Mardi Gras as a floor associate, having joined the company in early 2022.

He said: “Lockdown was a strange time, but it’s great to be out now and working. I want to pull my weight and get on, but I haven’t exactly worked out a career yet. It’s just good to be earning money.”

Regional manager Will said: “Martin and Alison are two of the most experienced members of management in the northwest.

“The pubs benefit from their wealth of experience – and they have the same enthusiasm for the job today which they had when they first started.”