Former landlady speaks of her experience running The Spread Eagle, Ipswich
Sheryl Meshirer, previous landlady of The Spread Eagle, Ipswich.
The former landlady of The Spread Eagle has spoken of the highs and lows of her seven-year reign at one of the oldest pubs in Ipswich.
The Fore Street tavern closed at the beginning of March this year and property owner Elizabeth Holdings Ltd is now in negotiations with a Norfolk brewery about taking it over.
Sheryl Meshirer, who has moved to New York, said she knew she had a challenge on her hands when she took on the bar.
She worked relentlessly to transform it into one of the best music venues in Ipswich and in 2013, it won a Best Bar None award for Best Town Centre Venue.
“I worked hard, very hard to make it a success and I believe I did,” Ms Meshirer said. “I made it happen with the help of some awesome musicians and bands.
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“I had a lot that only played The Spread Eagle and they were so talented, I called them my bands and was so proud to do that.”
Ms Meshirer, who was the secretary of community-based crime prevention scheme Bar Watch for several years, held auditions for The Voice, Britain’s Got Talent and The X Factor at the pub. She also put on a Bipolar awareness day in memory of her aunt, Jackie Fairbrass.
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Despite enjoying her work at The Spread Eagle, she has also admitted that her time there was not always easy.
“I put my life at risk for that pub,” she said. “It was my life and I protected it by upholding the laws and working with authorities.
“I was loyal and committed and it was a hard decision to leave.”
