Cheers! All smiles as The Talisman pub is back open for business
'It is and always will be a community pub' were the words of a local of The Talisman pub, now it has re-opened.
The pub had its licence revoked by council officials in March following a drugs raid by police.
Crack cocaine, digital scales and several bags and wraps of cannabis were found in the bar and toilets.
Now, the pub in The Scotlands are of Wolverhampton, has reopened after dozens of people wrote letters of objection to the council over its licence being taken away. It has now been allowed to re-open under the condition it is run by a new landlord.
"All the community pubs are closing round here" said one regular, Mark Simpson. They all just shut down or become chains. But when you come in here, you know everybody, everybody knows you and it's a real family pub.
"It is and always will be a community pub. The pub has held loads of charity events, helping people raise money for funerals and held lots of events for the kids, with the bouncy castles."
The 44-year-old and his wife Rachael, 42, who live on Underhill Lane were in the pub when the police raids took place and could not believe what happened. We couldn't wait for it to open again to be honest with you. We really missed it when it shut."
Ruby Smith, aged 83, who lives nearby, has been a regular at the pub for most of her life.
She said: "I was devastated when the pub closed I really was. I developed anxiety because I'd been so used to coming here to see people that I just missed everybody.
"My friend Iris Reynolds, who is 74 didn't leave the house for eight weeks when the pub shut. We're just dependant on it – it's a community centre for us."
Another local, Janette Radford, of Westcroft Avenue, was celebrating her 58th birthday at the pub on Monday).
"I just can't imagine spending my birthday anywhere else," she said, "It's my local and it has been for my entire life."
Bar staff Karen Nicholls, 52, who has worked at the pub for 13 years said: "It's just great to see it open again. It was really missed. It's good to have a positive come from a negative. You look at any pubs anywhere and they have the same problems. It's just a shame that a nasty minority ruined it for the rest of the community."
Four people were arrested following the raid earlier this year.
Some 35 pouches of Golden Virginia tobacco and six large bottles of vodka, thought to be contraband, along with suspected counterfeit clothing was also found at the pub along with the drugs.
