Landlady becomes Brakspear’s longest-serving licensee

Landlady Jayne Worrall has become pub operator Brakspear’s longest-serving licensee, clocking up 46 years working for the business.

Worrall began her time with Brakspear in 1980, when she ran The Bull in Wargrave near Maidenhead. 

In 1984, she moved to another Brakspear pub, The Rising Sun in nearby Witheridge Hill, but returned to The Bull in 1998 and stayed there for 10 years before a move to south Devon. In 2013, she moved back to Wargrave for the third time. 

"The Bull draws me back whenever I leave," says Worrall. "It’s a wonderful pub supported by an amazing community and I’ve had such happy times here."

The Bull continues to do a steady trade, which Worrall attributes to support from the local community support, fostered during her four decades at the helm.

"The affection local people hold for the pub has seen us through many ups and downs, including Covid. When we were closed, I was selling 70 takeaway portions of fish and chips on Friday and Saturday evenings and 100 roasts on Sundays." 

Sunday lunch at The Bull won Brakspear’s Best Sunday Roast award, as well as Pub of the Year in 2003 and a Director’s Award back in 1998.

The Bull, originally a 15th century coaching inn, was bought in 1779 by brewer Robert Brakspear for £850, as a place to sell his beer. 

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