Personally Speaking: Cheers! Let’s raise a glass to those at community’s heart
- Adam Jogee MP
- Sep 24
- 3 min read
This month, I had the pleasure of visiting The Victoria – known to many as The Little Vic – to present Julie, Sarah, and their brilliant team with the award for Newcastle-under-Lyme’s Best Pub 2025.
Over the summer, I held my Newcastle-under-Lyme’s Best Pub 2025 competition to celebrate the places that bring us together, support jobs, and play a vital role in our local economy and community life.
Pubs are more than just somewhere to enjoy a pint or a meal, they are where friendships are formed, where events are hosted, and where people are brought together for good causes.
They are spaces to be, in good times and bad, offering friendship and support during life’s challenges, and a place to celebrate when there’s joy to share.
The response to the competition was fantastic, with nominations and votes pouring in from across the constituency.
In the end, The Little Vic topped the poll, receiving more nominations and votes than any other pub.
Reading through the nominations, it struck me just how much this little pub means to so many people. Time and again, voters spoke about the warm welcome they receive, the hard work Julie and Sarah put in, and the way the pub has become a real hub for the community.
For some, being there feels like being ‘welcomed into their home’ – and again and again, people spoke about the pub being ‘community-driven’.
Julie, Sarah and their team go far beyond pulling pints. They’ve helped raise money for two local defibrillators through a charity skydive, supported campaigns like Stop the Stink, and worked with local suppliers to keep business in our area.
They’ve also made The Little Vic a truly safe and welcoming space by promoting schemes like Ask for Angela and Ask for Clive, and by supporting Newcastle’s LGBT+ community.
From marking VE Day and St George’s Day to celebrating Pride, they’ve shown time and again what it means to be at the heart of their community.
I’ve always believed the strength of Newcastle lies in its people and the places where they come together.
The Little Vic is a shining example of that – a place where everyone is welcome, where people look out for one another, and where the atmosphere is about so much more than the drinks being served.
Our pubs are also an important part of the local economy, supporting jobs directly and working hand-in-hand with suppliers, tradespeople, and other local businesses.
At a time when high streets are facing real challenges, pubs like The Little Vic remind us of the value of investing in our communities and keeping these local hubs thriving.
That same spirit of community is at the heart of the incredible work being done by the North Staffordshire branch of Parkinson’s UK.
I had the privilege of meeting members of the branch this month. They meet weekly at the Red Street Community Centre, welcoming people from across Newcastle, Stoke-on-trent, and Staffordshire Moorlands.
Just like our pubs, the branch provides a vital hub – this one for those living with Parkinson’s and their families. Week in and week out, its volunteers offer care, compassion, and practical help, as well as friendship and understanding. Their work shows what can be achieved when people come together to support one another.
This month, they held a fundraising event at Newcastle Congregational Church in King Street, raising an incredible £1,179.19 to support their work.
That figure is impressive on its own, but what struck me most was the genuine sense of solidarity and shared purpose of the group. It is a reminder that community is not something abstract; it’s built by people who show up for each other.
Whether it’s Julie and Sarah creating a space where everyone feels at home, or the volunteers at Parkinson’s UK offering a lifeline to families facing the challenges of Parkinson’s, both are shining examples of what makes Newcastle so special.
They show that when we invest in people and places, we strengthen the very fabric of our community.
As we head into autumn, I want to congratulate Julie, Sarah, and the whole team at The Little Vic on their welldeserved recognition.
I also want to thank everyone who nominated and voted.
Most of all, I want to encourage everyone to keep supporting these hubs of our community – our pubs, our local businesses, and our local charities. Newcastle is full of dedicated community groups and organisations, many of which I’ve had the privilege to visit.
When we spend locally or give our time to a cause close to home, we are not only helping businesses and groups survive – we are helping them thrive.
If we all play our part, these hubs will continue to bring people together and keep the heart of Newcastle beating strong for generations to come.
