2nd Jul 2026
Community Hero Award: Celebrating Leonie of The Steamboat, Lossiemouth
As part of our new tradition of awarding a Community Hero, we were thrilled to nominate Maureen at The Mauretania, Wallsend, for her outstanding community engagement and committed fundraising initiatives supporting local charitable causes.
We visited Maureen and Stacey to hear about her 15-year journey as the pub’s tenant. When asked about her original vision for The Mauretania, Maureen reflected:
‘ Before i took on the Mauretania, I was from another pub locally. I wanted to stay in the area with the people that we knew’ But she said her visions was for it to be ‘a true family feeling community pub’. Now fast forward – ‘My mum comes here, Stacey is here, friends, relatives. They all know where we are, and if anyone needs anything, they know we will help and be there.’ the true definition of a family feeling.
It’s evident that Maureen has created a space that truly embodies the meaning of community. She emphasizes that The Mauretania is designed to cater to everyone and provide a safe and welcoming environment: ‘There is all different elements of safety that we prioritize as they all come from different places. Housing, marriages, care homes, special needs. We look after people and their needs.’
We then discussed about what they love most about the pub. ‘We love the banter that you can have with the customers.’ They went on to say how they have close relationships with their customers and they treat them with respect. It is obvious over 15 years, things can evolve, so we asked if there is anything that stands out: ‘We have younger people coming in now. We have 2 football teams that attend and they just have the respect that you need running a pub.’
Stacey spoke passionately about the charity work that sits at the heart of The Mauretania. While giving back is a core value, what stands out most is the sense of mutual support: “We love the reciprocated support from our customers and the community. We give, but we also have it given back as well.”
This two-way relationship has become a defining feature of The Mauretania’s identity, creating a genuine bond with those who walk through its doors.
Going into more detail, Stacey explained how their charity efforts are driven not just by their own ideas, but by the people around them:
“We decided to do a different charity every month. We ask everybody who they want to support, so it’s not just coming from us—and then we do it. Every month I have a target of £500 to raise for each charity.”
The Mauretania also houses an extensive cellar packed with donated food for local banks, along with another room filled with toys and gifts for families who may struggle to afford them. It’s remarkable to see the sheer volume of items, all generously contributed by the community to support those who need it most.
When asked what has helped build such a strong reputation, the answer was simple but powerful:
“Knowing the customers and having a strong relationship.”
It’s this commitment to connection—alongside consistent community involvement—that continues to set The Mauretania apart within the community and surrounding area and It’s also why our North East BDM, Steve, loves sharing Maureen and Stacey’s passion and their remarkable charity work.