THE final lick of paint has been given to childhood sweethearts' dream to restore an endangered pub.

More than 60 people turned out to welcome the return of The Yacht, Pensarn's only pub on Marine Road, when it reopened its doors on Saturday, January 26 after a £105,000 refurbishment.

Began in November last year with intensive remedial work, landlords Ursula Maugham and Graham Cowrie - who first met aged 13 in Oldham - have completed the final cosmetic renovations on the pub following a two week closure from Saturday, January 12.

Rhyl Journal:

Miss Maugham said: "We had a fantastic turnout, with plenty of old and new faces.

"Even though we've only be closed for two weeks while we finish off, some of regulars were telling us how much we'd been missed.

"It goes to show how important the pub is to the community. Since the Park closed more than three years ago, we're the only hub left.

"A lot of our more socially isolated regulars haven't had anywhere to meet up or go to while we wee closed."

Originally taken on by Mr Cowrie five years ago, Miss Maugham - who joined two years later - claims that brewery Punch Taverns had no plans in investing in the site due to declining trade.

Miss Maugham added: "When Graham first took it on, he was told that The Yacht was destined to go nowhere and that it wasn't worth spending a penny on it as they were considering closing it.

"Now, after tripling trade in five years mit shows you how important The Yacht is to Pensarn and the brewery if they are willing to invest in its future."

Cllr Allan Hunter, of the Abergele Pensarn war said: "When we read in the papers and see the news about the amount of pubs closing, it's fantastic to see that the hard work put in by Graham, Ursula and the team has not only kept the only pub in Pensarn going but has also created such confidence in the brewery that they go to such lengths to revamp the pub and protect its future.

"This pub has a long history and I am extremely pleased that it's here to stay. Of course any business can only survive if it has customers so give it a go it has always been a good pub but now it's even better. We'll done Graham and Ursula."