REGULARS at a Southampton pub are celebrating after its future was secured.

Drinkers at The Swan in Woolston feared they could lose their pub after its former landlord left in January and its owner, Star Pubs, put it up for sale.

Now there are cheers all round after it was bought by the landlords of the Yacht Tavern in Sea Road.

The Swan used to be a thriving hub for live music, and bands would regularly play gigs their every weekend.

New landlady Jacqui Gordon, who will run the Portsmouth Road pub with her partner Richard Fearles, hopes to restore it to its former glory.

Jacqui said: “We used to pop in to The Swan now and again, and we have lots of live music at The Yacht, but one of the problems is we have too many bands and not enough venues.

“This was an opportunity to get the pub back as a live music venue and we want to turn it back into that.

“We are over the moon to be running The Swan, we have had support from local people and local bands as well and we can’t wait to get started.”

Already they have started decorating the pub, which will officially reopen on July 4.

It will be open from Monday to Sunday, from 1pm to 11pm, with this being extended to 12pm at weekends.

They are hoping former staff at the pub will get in touch, as it has created job opportunities for at two full-time staff and four part-time employees.

The new owners are hoping that bands in Southampton can visit the pub to talk about future gigs.

The news was welcomed by Labour councillor for Woolston, Warwick Payne.

He said: “In a climate where a lot of valued community pubs are closing it is good news that The Swan is reopening.”