The owner of a historic Sheffield pub has celebrated a decade of being behind the taps.
Thomas Mosley started working at The Rose and Crown – also known as Minnies – at the young age of only 13 years old.
Each day he started work before the pub opened its doors, restocking goods, then progressed all the way from kitchen to bar to eventually owning the establishment.
In 2013, the owner put the pub up for sale and Tom was offered ownership. With financial help from his parents, the pub was his. On 28 February he celebrated ten years of owning the venue.
Although he had turned down previous offers to take over pubs, he felt a strong connection towards the Rose and Crown.
He said “It’s more of an emotional investment, this was always the pub that my parents classed as their local.”
Tom’s father had worked there in his late teens and it is also the same place where his parents met.
The pub, nicknamed Minnie’s and its importance to the community, makes the milestone even more important to him.
He said “We are not just a business, we are more than that, we are there to obviously serve people drinks, but with our regulars we are much more heavily involved.
“You’re a shoulder to cry on, the person they can rant at and say whatever they want, knowing it’s safe.”
Despite loving his job, Thomas confessed that his journey owning the pub has not always been smooth sailing.
During the Covid pandemic, Tom faced difficult decisions about the pub, but says the break was good for his mental health, saying ‘it was the best thing that could have happened’.
In January 2021, he decided to push through and reopened the pub with positive changes, which suited him and his future plans for the pub.
Thomas said: “It has taken blood, sweat and tears to get to this point. It’s been a long journey but it feels like two minutes at the same time.”
Tom prides himself in his relationship with his employees and said he keeps in touch with them.
Eve Heathcote, 20, member of bar staff said she liked how ‘Tom didn’t expect miracles from me’, and expressed her joy working there.
She added: “All the staff you can have a laugh with, it’s like a big family.”
A fundraiser called ‘Minnie’s Fest’ is held by The Rose and Crown every year for charities and important causes.
Previously, the pub has raised money for great organisations such as St Luke’s Hospice.
The next event will raise money towards pancreatic cancer research, following the unfortunate passing of a close relative of the owner and another of an employee.
Tom said he specifically cherishes a moment from Minnie’s Fest 2018, where he danced and played games with family, friends, and regulars during the fundraiser. He said every moment as an owner has been rewarding.
The 10 year anniversary was celebrated by a party on 2 March.
Tom said: “I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else.”
