Kate ScotterA community pub which was saved from closure has gone from strength to strength since being taken over by new owners.Kate Scotter

A community pub which was saved from closure has gone from strength to strength since being taken over by new owners.

Andy Southworth and his wife Lynne became the new landlords of the Maid Marian in Ipswich Road, Norwich, at the beginning of February.

The couple took over the pub after it went into liquidation under the previous leaseholders.

But since the takeover, the couple say they have managed to turn the pub's fortunes around.

Mr Southworth said: "We're doing better than ever and since we took over things have improved week after week.

"A lot of the stigma has been removed from the place now people know that we are in charge and a lot of people are coming back.

"I hope it's the way we run the place which has proved popular with the local community."

Mr Southworth's dad Eric bought the lease off the previous licensees Nicola Siggery and Simon Marsh after the Enterprise Inns-owned pub closed on January 30.

The Southworths had already been managers at the pub since last summer after moving down from Blackpool.

Since they moved in, the pub has been given a new look and they are in the middle of producing a new menu which they hope will be released next week.

Mr Southworth said: "The food and function side is doing really well. We doing everything - weddings, christenings, funerals, birthday parties, the lot.

"We've also introduced a range of cask ales which the place never did before and we're finding that we're getting customers not just from the local area but all around Norwich - we had a couple come in from right over in Sprowston just for their lunch."

The Evening News has been urging people to support their local pub as part of its Love Your Local campaign.

For more stories from the Love Your Local campaign, log on to www.eveningnews24,co.uk and click on the special section.

Are you trying to save a community facility in the area where you live? Call reporter Kate Scotter on 01603 772326 or email kate.scotter@archant.co.uk