The Empire pub ‘back to how it was’ as it reopens under new management on Friday

The Empire pub will welcome back punters on Friday with an evening of live music and a special buffet in celebration of its reopening.

Leighton Power, 28, first started pulling pints behind the bar when he was 18 and now he is at the helm as its new manager. The pub in Runswick Road, Grimsby, was shut for five months and now it’s coming back, Leighton is keen for it to return to “how it was” with the old regulars and a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.

He told Grimsby Live: “I’ve been brought up in pubs, I’ve always worked in bars and that for 10 years plus. I’ve always wanted the opportunity to take The Empire on and it’s been passed from pillar to post but finally become available.

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“I learned all my bar trade from Nick Gibbons who used to run The Empire 10-15 years ago. I was glass collecting in there from when I was 16.”

The Empire, known to its regulars as “The Emmy”, will open on 12pm Friday and Leighton said he is “absolutely buzzing”. He said: “I’ve got a singer [Maiie Louisa] on from 5pm until 7pm, there’s going to be a buffet there, I can’t wait.

“It’s been shut for five months and everyone is dying to get back on there, the regulars and all that.” The Empire currently has Madri, Carling, and Coors on tap and new pumps are being added on the 18th.

Leighton said he hopes the “Old Emmy Army” – the nickname for its regulars – will return and he said he won’t be letting in any troublemakers. “I want it back to how it was, and how it should be,” he said.

He added: “Inside it’s had a complete transformation, honestly. It’s so clean, it’s all been tidied up, the carpets have been cleaned, the toilets have all been gutted. It’s really nice and it smells so much better.

“The beer garden especially is a talking point. I’ve got a nice big function room too, ready to let out for parties.”