ALBION landlady Alison Smith is priming the pumps for a re-launch party after being given the green light to start trading again following a licensing review.

ALBION landlady Alison Smith is priming the pumps for a re-launch party after being given the green light to start trading again following a licensing review.

The jubilant licensee of the Nelson Road Central pub in Great Yarmouth spoke of her delight following the decision to allow it to reopen on Friday after police closed the pub following a disturbance on Good Friday.

But Mrs Smith said on Tuesday customers were coming back as word was getting round that she had reopened.

She said: “We have had a positive response from customers and it is good to be open again. It was a quiet start on Friday night but it got really busy around 10.30pm and there were about 90 people in. Saturday was heaving, but we did not get as many out as usual on Sunday- there were about 60 customers.

“It was quieter than a normal weekend, but we were busier than the other pubs in the area. Overall we were quite busy considering we had not had any advertising saying we were open again.”

However, she was concerned some customers may have been put off by the trouble at Easter when windows were smashed.

She was initially arrested on suspicion of using racially aggravating language, but police dropped the allegation.

“I do think it has sent out the wrong message. I have not had as many Portuguese coming through the door. We will just have to try and repair the damage through word of mouth,” Mrs Smith said.

Conditions were imposed on the licence as part of the decision to allow the pub to reopen.

These included that the pub had two registered doormen on duty on Saturday and Bank Holiday evenings, and one doorman on duty on Friday evenings during the summer.

Extra CCTV coverage was also required.

The Albion hopes to hold its re-launch party to celebrate its reopening on May 29.