A HAMPSHIRE landlady is stepping away from the pub she has called home for the last 24 years.

Mandy Emmerson of the Grove Tavern in Woolston and says she has come to regard many of her regulars friends.

Mandy, 52, said: “I’m so sad to go, it’s been my home for 24 years and before then I used to live in Woolston. All of my regulars are good friends and there are so many of them."

Despite having six years of a 30-year lease remaining Mandy has decided to leave the Tavern after the brewery said that pub needed £60,000 worth of improvements.

Mandy said: “There’s a lot to do to keep the property up and I’ve already put in so much to the place over the years.

“We’ve had fire doors, alarms and the roof all taken care of, so it’s such a shame that we’re going.”

“Since I’ve said that I’m leaving, some of my regular customers have started to dwindle away and look for other pubs.”

Ed Fisher, a Woolston resident, who has been going to the pub every Friday for 30 years, says he will miss Mandy’s bright personality.

“It’s such a shame that the pub will be closing, it’s what a pub used to be. There’s no food or music, it’s just a classic pub atmosphere. It will miss Mandy’s bright spark when she leaves it behind," said Ed.

“My father was born in Southampton and I’ve lived in Woolston for 41 years after moving here from the city when I was a baby. Cornerstones of the community like this don’t come around very often, and it’s sad when they go.”

The venue will be temporally closed until a new landlord is found.

Mandy’s next career move is already taken care of, however, she will be working as a support worker.