WITH a monthly roster of bands that would put a small festival to shame, the music rarely ever stops at the Rolleston.

New landlady Emma Ockwell wasted no time throwing herself into the mix, holding a party on Christmas Day to help her get to know the locals.

She has since upped the tempo even further at the Commercial Road pub and its sister venue The Furnace, a nightclub next-door hosting alternative music.

Emma said: “We have kept the Rolleston as a live music venue, adding nights where people play their own, original music on Thursdays and acoustic sessions on Sundays.

“There are two venues rolled into one and at The Furnace we have also really been pushing the music, getting in the gigs and bands.

“A lot of people come here for the rock music side of things, but we have a good variety of music. One week it could be blues, the next it could be heavy rock, and each style of music has its own following.”

Having taken over in November, Emma and husband Dean used Christmas Day as a chance to get to know the locals.

“A lot of the regulars live in the area and some of them have been coming here 25 years,” she said.

“We decided to put on a buffet and invite them all along to introduce ourselves and get to know them.

“They are a really friendly group of people and it shows in the pub.

“We know everyone by name, what they drink and when their birthday is. We even give them cards on their birthdays.”

The 27-year-old has also introduced a new menu and specials to the Enterprise Inns pub.

She says providing variety is key to bucking the crisis which is closing 33 pubs a week across the country.

“On Fridays and Saturdays the pub opens at 11am and goes on until 2am,” Emma said.

“You never get a day off but it’s better being busy all the time than doing nothing,” she said.

“You have to live the life but there is never a dull moment and we have a great team of staff to rely on.”

The Adver and the Campaign for Real Ale have teamed up to showcase the best venues in town for Community Pubs Month.