IT’S the Shirley pub with a family feel.

Regulars come to the King’s Arms on Church Street for the warm welcome and the traditional pub atmosphere.

And being landlady for seventeen years – as well as working behind the bar for seven years prior to that – means that Kristina Baldacchino is clearly doing something right.

She said: “A started when I was 21 – that’s 29 years ago this week. It’s quite a local pub. Everyone in here is basically my family. I treat them like that and they treat me the same. I was working here anyway then I became the manager and licensee – and I built up a relationship with my customers.”

The pub is a hub for local darts, pool and card teams.

Monday night sees the men’s darts team practise, Tuesday night the pub plays host to the crib team, and Wednesday is mixed darts and men’s pool singles.

Friday night there’s poker while Saturday night is entertainment, with either a DJ or a live band every week.