The licensee of The White Swan pub in Barrowby is celebrating 20 years in the job.
John Fairhurst, 61, hosted a party for all his regulars and friends at the pub over the weekend to mark the milestone.
He became licensee of the pub after running the White Lion in Colsterworth for 18 months. Before that he was bar manager at Stoke Rochford hall.
In his 20 years behind the bar at the Swan, he has seen a lot of changes. John said: “The trade has changed a lot with the changes in licensing laws and the smoking ban. Running a pub is a lot different to what it was. People’s drinking habits have changed. They don’t go to the pub to drink any more. They go to eating pubs. Supermarkets haven’t helped our cause. Things have got a lot harder in the last five years.”
John hails from Liverpool originally and lives above the pub. He first worked in the White Swan 30 years ago part-time.
He said: “At that time the toilets were still outside. We have made a few slight improvements since then!
“If and when I retire I would like to stay in Barrowby. It’s a nice village. I would like to thank my customers for their support over the years and hope to welcome them for many more years.”