By Ben Smith
The landlord of the Railway Tavern, in Millfield, is celebrating three years in charge despite the pub industry’s continued crisis.
Four hundred and fifty pubs in the UK were forced to close between March and September this year, but Steven Morton is making his pub a success.
Steven says it has been difficult at times but he is “proud” to have made it this far.
The 41-year-old said: “It’s quite surreal to be here because it’s been really, really tough.
We’ve had break-ins and smashed windows. At times we didn’t think we’d make it to our first anniversary.”
The pub is now close to Steven’s heart, and all the more so for a surprise he had when he first started at the pub in 2009.
“The regulars told me that they knew my grandfather and that the pub used to be his local. I sometimes just sit in the pub after closing and take it in. It makes me feel close to him.”
The tavern is steeped in history, having stood since 1859. It was once one of the busiest pubs in Sunderland when a nearby glass factory was thriving in the 1960s and 70s.
Steven said: “When the Pyrex factory was open groups of people from there would come down, each with tins on the end of broom handles. They’d fill them up with beer at the bar and take them back to the factory for the workers.
“We treat the regulars as family”
The feeling of community in the pub is something the current owner values highly and wishes to continue, even though the factory has now closed.
Laura Cram, Steven’s Fiancée who is also manager of the Railway Tavern, said: “This pub thrives on community so that’s why it still exists. We treat the regulars as family.”
One of the regulars, Michael Jackson, is clearly happy with current owners.
The 58-year-old, who first came to the pub when he was 17, said: “They’ve done a good job. It closed for a while before they came but now the majority of regulars have come back.”
He added that everyone knows each other in the Railway Tavern, which is why everyone enjoys coming.
Steven will be hoping that the Railway Tavern’s successes will continue, even in a time which is so difficult for the pub industry.
SR4U 