Would you Adam and Eve it? Two million pints, not out

Record-breaker: Adam & Eve landlady Dot Gasson

A Cheltenham landlady has decided to call last orders on her career at the ripe old age of 80, reliably informing Snifter that she is probably Britain’s oldest 'working' landlady.

The diminutive Dot Gasson, who is barely 5’ tall, has presided over the bar at the Adam and Eve, Townsend Street, Cheltenham, for 35 years.

Gasson began working at the pub in 1977, the year of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, taking over as licensee a year later. 1977 was the also the year that Red Rum won his record third Grand National, Star Wars was released at the cinema and Dot married her husband Brian.

The Adam and Eve is the local for many postal workers at the main Cheltenham sorting office, just around the corner and this Friday evening (14th December) many of them will be bringing a large celebration cake to the pub to wishing Dot and Brian a First Class retirement (sadly Snifter can’t lay claim to this pun).

Dot was born at Beckford, Gloucestershire in 1932 and took over her first pub, the White Lion, in Winchcombe in 1958.

“Back then it was a proper pub,” she said. “Now it’s a bit posh.”

James Arkell of Arkell’s Brewery, which bought the pub off Whitbread in 1991, said: “When we bought the pub we didn’t realise that the jewel in its crown was Dot. Ever since she took over she’s been wonderful. The rest of the world has gone around and back but life hasn’t changed at The Adam and Eve. Dot has been a wonderful landlady and Arkell’s has been truly lucky to have her.”

“It’s been a very happy pub,” Gasson added. “I really can’t think of a time when it hasn’t been.”

Snifter would have suspected she is looking forward to putting her feet up for a few years now, but Gasson clearly has other ideas.

“I’d like to do some charity work,” she explained.

Get that woman a pint!