Meet The Publican - The Barley Mow, Leicester

For this issue, we remain in the City of Leicester. A new Licensee to the city, Kimberley Stones at The Barley Mow on Granby Street, Leicester.

Kimberley was born Kimberley Mahrie Macpherson-Davies to parents John and Dorothy in Inchanan, Scotland on 4^th April 1963. She claims that they didn’t have a name ready for a girl, so they opened a book and named her after a diamond mine. Within ten days of being born, she moved to Leicestershire, Syston to be precise, where her birth was actually registered.

She attended St Peters and St Pauls Infant School, then Eastfield Primary School, Thurmaston and and Wreake Valley, Thurmaston, leaving in 1979, to work at Thurmaston Post Office. In October of that year, she transferred to what was then Post Office Telephones on Free Lane Leicester, as a Telephonist on Directory Enqueries. Over the years there, she carried out duties such as, Customer Sales and Accounts, Training and her final role was Major Business Billing Specialist. She left what was Post Office Telephones, which had become British Telecom on 31^st March of this year.

During her time at British Telecom, she married Richie Stones, a man she had known since 1977. He was her father’s drumming instructor. They married at All Saint’s Church, Scraptoft on the 4^th August 1984, but she is no longer with Richie.

Following her redundancy from British Telecom, Kimberley took on the Tenancy of The Barley Mow on 3^rd April of this year. This is her first pub, having worked there as a Saturday night barmaid for the past two years. She said “The pub has been un-loved for a number of years and I just had to take it on to give it a new lease of life” While working for British Telecom, in 2000, she began dating a workmate, Gary Tilley. He has now moved in to The Barley Mow with Kimberley and, as well as still having a full time job at British Telecom, he helps out around the pub as and when required.

Kimberley has one child, Tom aged 17, and two sisters, Gail 42 and Lesley 41. Her interests are quizzes, puzzles and SHOES!!! (106 pairs at the last count!). She takes a keen interest in the history of The Barley Mow (now that is dedication for you). It is interesting to learn that The Barley Mow was originally an hotel, acquired by Everards Brewery Ltd in 1904 and the original address for the pub was 1-3 London Road.

Kimberley has certainly given The Barley Mow a boost in customer morale and an improvement on the beer as well, so a visit is a must.

K Williams.

This page last updated: May 28, 2008

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