Sons help Nigel to celebrate 25 years

Night shift leader Nigel is pictured with his sons Ryan and Nathan, celebrating his 25th anniversary with Wetherspoon.

Nigel, who works in the hotel at The Admiral of the Humber, was living in Carlisle when he applied for a job with the company in 1998.

He recalled: “I was made redundant from my previous job two weeks before I was getting married, so I really needed to get a job as soon as possible.

“I had previously worked in hotels and, following a successful application and interview, said I would work anywhere.

“I joined the company as a shift manager at Heathrow’s terminal 2.

“I was used to moving around with work, so was happy to move again.”

Nigel spent just a few months at the airport pub before returning north, when, in February 2000, the now-closed pub The Zachariah Pearson was newly opening.

Nigel, 53, explained: “My wife is from Hull, so we decided to move there.

“I spent 14 months at The Zachariah Pearson before working in all the Hull pubs, at least twice, as the town went from no Wetherspoon pubs to four… in the space of about 18 months.”

The pubs included Lloyds No.1 Bar, The Three John Scotts and The Admiral of the Humber, where Nigel now works.

He also helped with new openings and preopening training at pubs across the country, including at Beverley, Driffield, Gatwick, Watford, Newcastle and Llandudno returning to The Admiral of the Humber in June 2017, as night shift leader, when the hotel first opened there.

Both of his sons, Ryan and Nathan, started work at The Admiral of the Humber, although Nathan, a kitchen associate, has since moved to The Three John Scotts. Ryan, currently studying maths at the University of York, is a team leader at The Postern Gate (York).

Nigel said: “As students, they both wanted a job and their own money, so joined Wetherspoon. They have grown up knowing the company, so it was an obvious choice.”

Nigel, meanwhile, is happy in his role at The Admiral of the Humber, working the 10pm – 6am shift in the hotel.

He added: “There is always enough to do – and the job keeps me going.

“I didn’t think when I joined, all those years ago, that I would have stayed so long, but I am thankful to the company for giving me all the working and training opportunities, which I have enjoyed.”

The Admiral of the Humber’s pub manager, Katie, said: “Congratulations to Nigel on his remarkable 25 years’ service with the company.

“He is a hard-working, reliable and great team member at the pub.