COCKERMOUTH'S longest-serving landlady has bid a fond farewell to the popular traditional pub she has run for 25 years.

Sue Askey has spent decades behind the bar, in the kitchen and playing quizmaster at The Bitter End on Kirkgate.

She regularly worked seven-day weeks and is now looking forward to some well-earned time out.

Prior to The Bitter End, Sue and husband Mike ran The Bush, on Main Street. "We ran that for four years and then decided that instead of working for someone else we wanted to look for our own place," said Sue, 64.

"Mike spotted a derelict empty pub on Kirkgate and we went to look round."

"The Sportsman had closed three years' earlier. The walls were black with mould, it was a mess. It had just been left, there were glasses on the bar with beer in them," said Sue.

It took three months to gut the place and renovate it, during which time original fire places and a stone floor were uncovered.

"We created a new bar area," said Sue. "Mike put a brewery in the back, that was the main feature of the pub. He brewed there for about 10 years then expanded into bigger premises."

The place was transformed into a cosy, traditional pub with lots of old black and white photos of Cockermouth.

They initially offered light lunches which proved such a success they expanded to offer lunches and evening meals.

"It was only me cooking at the start but it got bigger and bigger over time and we took on more staff," said Sue. "Now we can do 110 covers a night."

Sue and Mike had a team of 16 staff. "I have very good staff, some have been with us for more than 15 years," she said.

"I like interacting with people. I'm a people person and can talk to everyone, I enjoy it.

"I enjoy cooking, I do a bit of everything, including cleaning. I've always said I would never ask people to do a job I would not do myself."

The couple have done a popular weekly quiz for 25 years.

"Mike sets the questions, which always include a music section, and I'm the quizmaster, which I love doing," said Sue.

"Some people have been coming for 19 years. It can be absolutely packed with as many as 15 teams."

The pub has supported many charities over the years, including the mountain rescue team.

"I love Cockermouth. All the people are lovely and the shops are great. There's a lovely community, everyone knows everyone," said Sue.

The couple won't be going far, as they live next door. But are looking forward to doing more walking, sailing and spending time with family.

"I was going to stop work when I was 50 but I could not bring myself to do it. I love my job, it's my second baby," said Sue, who has a son and granddaughter.

"It's been the best pub ever, it's given me a lovely lifestyle. I have made hundreds of friends. We have customers that have been loyal since the pub opened.

"The support has been wonderful, if we didn't have that we wouldn't be here."

The pub has been bought by Jackie Williams and Mark Cockbain, who have run The Wheatsheaf at Lorton for the past 19 years and will continue to do so.

"Sue runs such a good house and has the same sort of clientele we have at The Wheatsheaf," said Jackie.