Meet the Publican -The Black Horse, Leicester

Phil Gomersall. What kind of name is that, I ask you? Well actually, it’s a good Yorkshire name and a good Yorkshire lad is what Phil is. His mum is from Leeds and his dad is from Kingston Upon Hull and you don’t get much more Yorkshire than that. They call it 'God’s own County'. So that might explain why Phil is Phil and if you don’t like it, then tough, as he would say. Being a good Yorkshire lad like. But how shall I tell you his history?

I could add humour, but I won’t because the humour is in the simple telling of his tale.

While he was there, as well as playing rugby, he went to work at a hard pub called The Girlington. Night after night there’d be fights and stand-offs. He met a fellow member of staff named Sarah, who he thought was a ‘self-opinionated cow.’ Later he altered his opinion somewhat. Phil’s skills and ability meant he eventually got a relief manager’s position with Bass, the so-called No.1 in the North, as it said on the staff videos.

However, he chose to seek his fortune in the Isle of Man and in 1993 off he and Sarah trotted. For a time it worked but then he fell out with an area manager and decided to return to the mainland. What awaited him was the newly opened Tap & Spile in Kingston Upon Hull, followed by The Tap & Spile in Pontefract. In the mid 1990’s, the apotheosis of the pubs serving Real Ale. Phil got in there at just the right time, starting as barman, he rapidly became manager of The Coniston, Idle Near Bradford, followed by The Tap & Spile, Grimsby, where they stayed for 3 years. From a career in retail Sarah joined him and in Grimsby they established a pub that sold beers from all over the British Isles. They had personal contact with each brewery, so it was more of a free house than managed.

Then came the take-over by Century Inns, so Phil, Sarah and their newborn child Isobel, sought employment elsewhere and went to Hertfordshire. The owners of the Sun Inn, in Hitchin, gave Phil a fairly free hand in choosing beers, provided he could get deals, which is buying short dated beers. Phil did that and his cellarmanship made sure the beers were in prime condition.

With a baby to care for, the couple found it hard to manage the pub, but they would take it in turns so that one was working and the other caring for the baby. They loved The Sun, but then through trade papers they found it was up for sale. Feeling betrayed after all their efforts, they searched for vacancies and found The Roebuck in Central London. At the time it seemed the right move, but once theye got there it was a total catastrophe. Vermin everywhere, kitchen not done and general disorder.

They lasted a month, then Sarah said, “enough is enough” and Phil agreed. So off back to The Isle of Man, where Phil worked at Safeways supermarket, taking a break from the Licensed trade. Then back to Kingston Upon Hull in a van. They took on The Mariners Arms in Beverly until 2002 when Phil descended upon Leicester, at the request of Grant Cook, to run the then newly opened Criterion.

Phil ran The Criterion single handed at first, but a short stay of only a month saw him heading back to Kingston Upon Hull, later to return to run The Swan & Rushes.  With Grant Cook planning to sell his pubs, Phil then began seeking a pub locally and Everards had the good sense to recognise a decent Publican. They offered him the Tenancy on The Black Horse on Braunstone Gate (Foxon Street actually). Phil and Sarah remain there to the present day. Sarah doesn’t participate in the pub's day to day running, however she does provide the food for the regular quiz nights and our Committee Meetings, occasionally held there.

Since moving to The Black Horse, Phil has gained a good trade, with his regular quizzes and live music nights. He can be seen playing his part at Christmas and Easter in fancy dress! He has recently had the interior re-decorated and re-upholstered.

Phil soon earned his place in The Good Beer Guide and is one of only a handful of Everards pubs to have a range of Guest Beers, something that Phil is proud of. Being a Yorkshire lad, he yearns for the day when he can proudly sell Roosters of Knaresborough in his pub and regularly lets people know that this is his favourite.

Phil is also a dedicated CAMRA Member and has been awarded Pub Of The Month in April 2004 and is also the Licensee of our Beer Festival. He and Sarah have 2 children; Isobel aged 6 and Cecily aged 3. His interests include Rugby League, Su Doku in The Times, Live Music Gigs and of course drinking beer, usually while wearing loud colourful shirts!

We are privileged to have Phil as a Publican in Leicester. We don’t currently see anything exciting enough in Kingston Upon Hull to call him back home, so why not give Phil a visit.

K Williams (Assisted By Sarah Pickles).

This page last updated: May 28, 2008

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