Time for a change as licensees retire

A landlord who has spent his whole life living in Mansfield pubs is set to pull his final pint as he and his wife retire.

John Morritt was born in the the town’s Ladybrook Hotel in 1959 when his grandparents were licensees there.

His late parents Jack and Shirley Morritt later took on the former Midland Arms and then ran the Ling Forest Inn before handing over the reins to John in 1990.

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John and wife Kathleen will be joined by family, friends and regulars to mark their own retirement this weekend.

John said: “It’s been more of a way of life than a job. I’ve watched two or three generations of the same families come and go and our own family has grown up here. Our customers aren’t really customers, they’re friends.”

While John’s parents were running the Ling, he worked at the former Coal Board but helped out in the pub.

He later decided to join twin brother Stephen at the helm when their parents, retired and sold the pub to a brewery. John married Kathleen in 1995 and the couple naturally had their reception at the Ling before Kathleen became landlady.

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The couple will stay in Mansfield and their plans for retirement include travelling and spending more time with daughter Claire and son Craig and their families.

A retirement party will be held at the Ling, on Eakring Road, on Saturday, from 6pm.

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