Leanne still loving the kitchen after 25 years

Kitchen manager Leanne D is pictured (centre) receiving her 25 years’ service certificate and flowers from area manager Amanda (right) and kitchen shift leader Leanne U.

Leanne D joined the company as a part-time bar associate in April 1999, working at The William Jameson in her home city.

Within a year, she had cross-trained to work in the kitchen also, having already stepped up to bar supervisor (now known as a bar shift leader role).

Leanne said: “I went into the kitchen to work and liked it, so never came back out.”

Leanne took on her first kitchen manager position at The Lambton Worm (now closed), where she spent three years, before moving, in December 2006, to the newly opened pub The Bishops’ Mill.

She remembered: “I went back to The Lambton Worm after I had my first child. I adored that place, loved it there, but it was sold in 2017.”

A brief four-month stint at The Cooper Rose followed, before a move to The Water House (now closed), where she spent six years, before that pub was also sold.

Leanne, who now has three children, Gracie (14), Izzy (12) and Archie (six), worked from March until November 2023 at Wetherspoons (Metrocentre, Gateshead), until taking on her current kitchen role at The Wouldhave, managing a team of 20.

Leanne, 44, added: “Working full time and bringing up three children have their own challenges, but the company was supportive and flexible with shifts when they were younger.

“I love working for Wetherspoon and enjoy my job.

“There have been so many changes during the past 25 years, mostly positive and for the better, and I think it is quite an achievement to have managed 25 years with the same company.”

Leanne concluded: “When I took on the part-time job at the age of almost 20, I had no idea what I wanted to do, yet didn’t imagine for a second that it would be the start of a 25-year (so far) career.

“I thoroughly enjoy working at The Wouldhave and wish to stay here now, after all of the moving around.”