‘He’s put me in charge, which feels weird considering I’m only just the legal age to drink’
A teenager is believed to have become Britain’s youngest landlady at the age of 18.
Rheanna Geraghty now runs the 17th-century Waggon and Horses in the village of Steeple Morden, Cambridgeshire, where she started working at 16.
The teenager said she is excited to take on the challenge of her new role, in-between studying to be a fully qualified beauty therapist.
But she admitted she was still shocked she landed the role as landlady because she is only just old enough to legally drink in one, having turned 18 eight months ago.
Rheanna, from Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, said: “My boss always said how natural I am around the pub, and now he’s bought another pub, he’s not around as much.
“So he’s put me in charge, which feels weird considering I’m only just the legal age to drink.”
Rheanna, who says her favourite drink is prosecco and favourite shot is baby Guinness, got a job at the Waggon and Horses after her GCSEs to earn money through the summer.
Since then, she’s been working there while studying beauty therapy at Cambridge Regional College, but her course finishes in June.
The previous landlord, Chris Collier, was struggling to find the right person to take over the pub after taking on a second establishment in Redhill, Surrey.
But, now Rheanna is old enough to take on the role.
Chris was impressed by how quickly she got the hang of things, so decided she should be the one in charge in March.
Rheanna now has her personal holders licence meaning she is legally allowed to supply alcohol.
By appointing her, Chris believes he’s made Rheanna the UK’s youngest landlord, a title she feels proud to hold.
Rheanna said: “Chris still owns the pub but I’m just running it. I’ve always really enjoyed it here and I know how everything works from being here for two years.
“My favourite part about the job is when the pub is full and everyone is happy. I like being constantly busy.
“The staff and the regulars respect me and are really supportive – they want to see both me and the pub do well.
Rheanna says she plans to work as a beauty therapist in the day at the pub in the evenings.
“At first I was a bit nervous about taking on the responsibility of it all, but that’s passed now. Everything’s going well. Working at the pub has completely changed my life with the people and the relationships I have.
“And my family are my biggest supporters – they couldn’t be prouder of me.”
Outgoing landlord Chris added: “I’m extremely proud of Rheanna who is a very strong young independent woman. “She is already pushing forward with her own vision for the Waggon which includes the hiring of a new chef, new menus, and wine lists.
“Rheanna is not only the Waggon’s youngest ever landlady but possibly the youngest landlady in the UK at the age of 18.”
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