Contenders line up for 'youngest licensee' title
A woman who was only 17 when she took on a pub has emerged as potentially the youngest ever licensee.
Nadine Smith became a publican in 1972 when she took over the Carpenters Arms in Ely, Cambridgeshire.
She found herself having to lie about her age when interviewed because she and her husband desperately wanted the job. They did not expect to be in the post so quickly but when they opened the doors Ms Smith was two weeks shy of her 18th birthday.
The appointment made a big noise and Ms Smith found herself in the local paper, the Newmarket Journal, with the Daily Mirror also knocking on the door.
"Pubs were in my family so I was prepared for the challenge," said Ms Smith. "My only regret is I missed out on some things that others at that age were doing. But it wasn't too much for me and I believe if you've got it in you then age shouldn't matter."
The Publican set out to find the youngest licensee last week after James Gwilt revealed he had taken on the Jubilee in Pembrokeshire at only 20.
This was beaten by a number of readers including Joseph Holland at the Holly Bush Inn who passed his NLC when he was 17 and was granted a full licence just four weeks after his 18th birthday.
Meanwhile, Tim Blake started work at a pub in Watford, Hertfordshire at 16, and by 18 had been granted a licence with strong support from the police.
Related articles:
Is this the UK's youngest licensee? (21 September 2004)
