By Claire Hu
One of the country's youngest licensees has been enlisted by Jennings Brewery to run a new addition to its growing County Durham pub estate.
Beverley Middleton, 21, who is Jennings' youngest landlord in the north east, has taken over the tenancy of the recently-purchased Charlaw Inn in Blackhouse, near Chester-le-Street.
The acquisition brings its estate to 110 pubs stretching from the Lake District to Lancashire, Cheshire, Yorkshire and the north east.
Middleton is no stranger to the trade, having caught the bug at the age of 16 when she worked as a pub waitress.
At the age of 20, she became manager of another Jennings pub, the Gilesgate Moor Hotel in Durham.
She now has big plans for the Charlaw Inn.
"I am really looking forward to the challenge of running my own pub," she said.
"I hope to build up trade further, mostly by building up the food side of the business and trying to create more atmosphere.
This is a lovely pub, but there are not that many houses around here, so we need to attract trade."
Currently completing an advanced NVQ in food and drink, Middleton said she eventually hoped to run a string of pubs.
"But I've got quite enough excitement just running one at the moment," she stressed.
She said a choice of Jennings cask ales, which include Sneck Lifter, Crag Rat, Old Smoothy and Cumberland Ale, would also form an important part of the offering.
Brian Naylor, Jennings business development manager, said: "This is another example of our commitment to purchasing first- class pubs.
We are very much looking forward to working with Beverley, promoting the pub, and giving her any support she needs to achieve her business goals.
"Although Beverley is very young, she is experienced and we have every confidence in her ability to make a success of the Charlaw Inn."
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