A SEAFRONT pub has reopened under newmanagement.

Smithy’s has reopened after being taken over by a group of investors and refurbished.

Former landlord John Woodhouse, who was a popular figure in Southend and also ran the Foresters Arms, sadly died last October, but his business partner Sharon Davies continued to run the pub.

The pub is now being managed by Tracey and Chris White, a couple from Shoebury, who want to maintain a family feel to the venue.

Mrs White said: “It’s been going well so far, we’ve had locals coming back and they are quite liking what we are doing.

“We had no advertising before we opened but we wanted to be ready for the Easter bank holiday.

“We repainted and it smells a bit sweeter now, but we want to keep it as a traditional, family-friendly pub.

“I put roast potatoes out on the bar last Sunday and people seemed to like those.”