Ref. 28388-8CENTRAL to any community, of course, is the local pub.

Louisa Britton and her husband Phil, 35, are the first managers of the Tawny Owl in Queen Elizabeth Drive, which opened on October 22.

Mrs Britton, 32, said that starting a pub from scratch is a daunting task but well worth the hard work.

"We've both loved every minute of it," she said.

"It is a fantastic community and our customer base is very good.

"Everyone has been extremely supportive, which has made things easier."

Already, the pub is starting to attract regulars an encouraging sign, says Mrs Britton.

She said: "They will hopefully be drinking here for years to come.

"A lot of people in this area are shift workers. Because we are open all day we are able to cater for them."

The Taw Hill Residents' Association also holds regular meetings in the pub, allowing the husband and wife team to get to know members of the community.

Mr Britton added: "The community is really getting together very nicely now. I think there were a lot of people who felt isolated when they first moved here.

"Now with the pub opening they are starting to get to know each other and make new friends."