New venture blooms at Blue Bell

Stephen Mahoney with Robinson’s tied-trade manager Wayne Roach

PULLING pints at Shaw’s Blue Bell pub will brew up fond memories for the new landlords.

Joyce Ingham is continuing a family affair with the Market Street inn as her grandfather worked behind the bar more than 40 years ago.

Her partner Stephen Mahoney has taken over as licensee to fulfil their dreams of running a pub.

The couple met two and half years ago while on holiday in Benidorm and Stephen is moving from South Wales so they can work together.

Joyce said: “I grew up in Shaw and my grandfather worked at the Blue Bell in the late 1960s. As a teenager I also remember being fascinated by it as a bikers’ pub, so I have some very fond memories.

“Taking on the license and moving in for the first time is now an exciting time for us both as we start a new career together.

“It is a great new start for us both and we get to spend so much time together.

“We also have the support of my grown-up family, who help out behind the bar as well as hosting our karaoke and disco nights.”

Joyce will be working part-time in the pub, but it’s a full-time change for ex-railway worker Stephen, who is delighted to be looking after his customers rather than working outdoors servicing the tracks.

In preparation, he completed a five-day licensee training course at Robinson’s Unicorn Brewery in Stockport.

It provided all the hands-on training for him to go into the business with confidence, while Joyce also has previous experience behind the bar.

Already the couple are reporting an upturn in business since they started putting their training into practice.