Meet The Publican - The Crown, Uppingham

We travel to the boundary of our Branch area for this issue, to meet Alan Pickersgill. The place, The Crown at Uppingham, Rutland, where Alan is Licensee with his business partner, Philippe Larroche.

Alan was born to parents Christine and Keith on 11^th July 1969, at their family home in Penistone, South Yorkshire. He attended Netherton Infant and Junior schools, followed by Horbury High School, which he left in June 1985 to attend Wakefield District College, learning business studies.

On leaving college in July 1987, he took on his first job as a part time trolley collector for B&Q DIY Stores, eventually being sent to various stores nationwide, doing various jobs as and when required and went on to become Sales Manager at “The B&Q Depot” DIY Store in Luton. In 1994, he took voluntary redundancy and moved to a change of job, working for Douthwaites Florist Sundries Wholesaler as Cash & Carry Manager. They in turn were taken over by Country Baskets plc, for whom he became senior Cash & Carry Manager over four of their stores. During this time, while on a schoolteacher’s night out during 1999 in Leeds, he was introduced to Philippe, who was to become best friend and business partner.

In January 2005, he went in search of a complete change of lifestyle and career, and approached Everards Brewery Ltd, with a view of running his own pub. He and Philippe requested and were given The Barley Mow on Granby Street, where they introduced a wider range of real ales and increased barrelage. He and Juliet, a customer, did a skydive in 2005 in aid of Rainbows Children’s Hospice, a charity adopted by the pub.

In April 2006, they realised that they had reached the end of their achievements at The Barley Mow and moved to The Crown in Uppingham, where they are building trade based on the his experience of the quality of real ale served in their previous pub. This is where Alan remains today.

He has never married and has no children, but interests include Sheffield Wednesday Football Club and Bradford Bulls Rugby League, as he is an avid supporter of both. He also likes Real Ale, motor racing and the countryside.

Why not give the Crown a visit; it is located in Uppingham Town Centre on High Street East, or from the rear on North Street East, the old A47.

K Williams.

This page last updated: May 28, 2008

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