Council worker and licensee swap jobs for National Licensing Week

By Nikkie Sutton

- Last updated on GMT

Nigel Marston
Nigel Marston

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Today (24 June) marks the end of the first National Licensing Week and James Currell, manager of the Wetherspoon's-owned William Dampier, backed the job-swap scheme to help raise awareness of licensing in day-to-day life.

Currell swapped his role behind the bar at his Yeovil pub with Nigel Marston, licensing manager at South Somerset District Council. 

After spending two hours behind the bar, Marston said: “I thought it would be a good idea to find out what it is like on the opposite side so to speak, to get an idea of the pressures and what is involved.

“I have worked behind a bar before, in the dim and distant past, but things have changed and the William Dampier is very well organised and is doing a great job.”

He added: “The plan now is for me to take James out on a typical day with me and we will then both have a greater understanding and appreciation of each other’s role and expectations.”

The William Dampier was one of two venues in Yeovil selected to raise public awareness of licensing, and schemes such as Pubwatch and Shopwatch were also involved in the week-long event.

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