Taking the Opportunity

In those seven short months of coming into the licensed trade I had learnt so much and the bits I didn’t know I quickly found out about with my inquisitive mind. Whilst the knowledge on what was out there was growing, knowledge on our own existence was growing too, not just within the pub itself but the licensed trade net work.

John was now confident enough to go on holiday and leave me in charge. It is fair to say the staff he had were all well established so it wasn’t ‘that’ difficult. Never the less I felt very responsible in my temporary role and strived to do my best.

During this time I received a rather strange phone call. It came I’m sure towards the end of a busy lunchtime session with the person on the other end asking to speak to John. When I explained that John was in fact on holiday they then said ‘well in fact I would like to speak to you’, this puzzled me. The content of that conversation was simple, word had got around that a ‘young management couple’ in Cornwall were making a name for themselves and the Brewery saw them as ‘ideal’ managers! It is fair to say, not only did this come as a shock but when looking round several pubs in Cornwall even though the aim was to have one of our own, it never dawned on me it would happen so quickly!

On John’s return from holiday I spoke with him at the appropriate moment, he was a little angry as someone was going to benefit from his labours but at the same time was pleased that we had an opportunity to make it on our own.

Shortly afterwards, we were to make a trip heading west to Truro where the Daniell Arms was going to be the next chapter in a very successful licensed career.

Thinking back on this, which happened twenty-five years ago, I was so excited to be given the chance and no one was going to stop me taking the opportunity.