A 74-year-old barmaid, who says her job gives her a thriving social life, insists that those who think bar work is only for young people are wrong.
Brenda Moorhouse, from Stockport, has worked at the Lord Nelson in Urmston for the last 21 years and says her job stops her from ever feeling lonely.
“I often hear of older people saying they feel lonely,” mum-of-four Brenda says.
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“But I think bar work can bring so many solutions into your life.
"It can give you some extra income, give you a social life, doesn't require much training and it gets you out of the house and stops you feeling alone.
“The perception has been that if you weren't a landlady then bar work was a job for younger people.
"Nothing could be further from the truth."
Brenda, who lives with husband Dave, has spent more than 27 years working for Joseph Holt pubs and says she loves every aspect of the role.
She has come to be affectionately known to both staff and the regulars at the Lord Nelson as ‘mother’ and says it has meant that people will often come to her for support.
“I’ve found that younger customers in particular often discuss things with you that they wouldn’t, say, talk about at home or to a friend of their age,” Brenda explains.
“Perhaps they feel comforted having the ear of an older person. And with so many people now living away from their families perhaps they like someone who is a ‘nana’ type figure.”
In fact, in keeping with the family vibe of her place of work, her daughter and son-in-law Julie and Ian Slamon also happen to run the Lord Nelson pub.
Having previously worked for a large insurance and pensions company, Brenda decided to take up casual pub work in her late 40’s.
She began working at The Egerton Inn in Crumpsall in January 1995 before moving to the Lord Nelson two years later, where she stayed until her retirement last month.
“Older people have so much to give,” Brenda adds.
“I would suggest to anyone who feels lonely to get some work in a pub – especially with a brewery like Joseph Holt which has always put the quality of its people over the age on their birth certificate.
“I promise you'll never look back.”
