A CHARISMATIC landlord, renowned for his cocktail menu and quirky historic pub, has called time at age 84.
Neil Turner says it is with a heavy heart that he is giving up the Milbank Arms, in Barningham, where he has spent the better part of 78 years of his life.
He and his sister Brenda are moving to a cottage in the village.
Apart from being one of only eight pubs in Britain not to have a bar counter, the Milbank Arms made fame for the 87 cocktails concocted by Mr Turner.
The landlord first arrived at the Millbank Arms at the age of five, when his father Samuel and mum Hannah took over the pub.
He said: “I remember it all from day one coming in here. We were only in three days when war broke out. The army took over Barningham Park, same as Rokeby and Lartington Hall. You can imagine what it was like in the village. It was like just like Aldershot.”
He recalled how the pub’s three rooms were packed each night and his mum employed four women from outside the village to help out.
After pub closing time at 10pm each night during the war his father who lost a leg in the Battle of the Somme, would man an observer post at Greta Bridge until 6am the following day.
His sister Brenda was one of the first Timber Jills during the war, driving a D7 Caterpillar pulling out trees.
Sadly his father, who also ran a garage in the village, died quite young in 1963, leaving his mum to run the pub.
Mr Turner, who retired from managing a shop in Barnard Castle 22 years ago, took over when his mum died in 1987.
The pub earned a solid reputation attracting customers from far and wide, including a group of women who made an annual pilgrimage from London, especially for Mr Turner's cocktails.
Mr Turner said: “The cycle clubs from Great Ayton, Middlesbrough, Stockton and Darlington supported the Milbank Arms each bank holiday for over 50 years. Thank you for supporting us through the good times and quiet times.”
Several farewell parties were arranged ahead of the pub's closure, starting with one arranged by close friends John and Anne Meynell.
Mr Turner said: “It was a most super night. That was on Thursday. On Friday we had another one. On Saturday we had another one. Then for Sunday lunch we had one. We had about six.
I must thank them all. The food was enough for a Buckingham Palace garden party.
“I must say my sister Brenda has been a tower of strength to me, without her I would not have been here.
“It has always been a pleasure – I never treated this as a job, it was a way to fill the nights.”
Aldbrough St John brewer Pete Fenwick, of Mithril Ales, produced a special beer called We'll Meet Again in honour of Mr Turner and his time at the Milbank Arms.
