Darlington pub landlady celebrates 21 years at the Baydale Beck Inn

Joanne Chambers has been landlady of the Baydale Beck Inn in Low Coniscliffe in Darlington since 2002 and to celebrate 21 years in the role, she and her staff held a huge party.

Approximately 150 people attended the party on Saturday, July 29, celebrating Joanne’s achievement with live music from local band, Heaven In The Afternoon.

Joanne, who is originally from Middlesbrough, was overjoyed with the support of loyal customers for making the job worthwhile, and expressed thanks to her staff including pub manager Jemma Hetherington, without whom the running of the pub wouldn’t be possible.

Joanne Chambers, landlady of the Baydale Beck in Darlington. Picture: Sarah Caldecott, Newsquest (Image: Sarah Caldecott, Newsquest)

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Joanne told The Northern Echo: “We had a great turnout, there was a great atmosphere.

“Things have definitely changed over the years with running the pub, it’s more industry-wide.

“It used to be the case that you could just open the doors and customers would walk in but now we’re fighting for every customer.

“I think there was probably more of a drinking culture years ago and Covid and the cost-of-living has changed things, people’s habits have changed.

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“We used to be busy until midnight on a weekend, but people tend to go out and go home earlier now.

“We don’t want to pass all the costs onto customers because they’re what keeps us going so it has been difficult.

“I raised my three boys here, the youngest is 19 and the other two are in their twenties and they’ve helped a lot over the years.

“It’s definitely a job where you have to have a passion for it and enjoy the work.

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“The customers make it worthwhile and the people you meet. I’ve made lifelong friends here.

“There’s people I met when I first came here who I’m still good friends with now.”

Jemma Hetherington, manager of the Baydale Beck Inn, told The Northern Echo: “The party was amazing.

“There was so much support for Joanne and it was lovely just to celebrate her.”

Joanne told The Northern Echo that the best part of her job is the people she has met over the years. Picture: Sarah Caldecott, Newsquest (Image: Sarah Caldecott, Newsquest)