REGULARS from a popular Ipswich pub which has not seen a pint pulled in more than four months today spoke of their joy at seeing the beer flow once again.

REGULARS from a popular Ipswich pub which has not seen a pint pulled in more than four months today spoke of their joy at seeing the beer flow once again.

The Railway in Foxhall Road was the scene of a stand-off after the previous landlord, Chris Rudge, fell out with lease-holder Mike Burgess.

The feud meant the community went without one of Ipswich's most famous music venues.

But today, the pub is open for business again – and regulars are already flooding back to lend their support to the new landlord.

Railway regular Nigel Upson said: "We're all really pleased to see it re-open.

"If it's run in the right way and the person in charge knows what they are doing, people will keep coming back.

"Even without any advertising, the regulars are already heading back to the Railway."

Fellow drinker Mel Fleming added: "It's been shut for four months and we were beginning to wonder if it would ever open again.

"Most of the regulars I know were back in there on Wednesday as soon as it opened.

"But even though it's open again, it will take a long while to get back to where it was before."

New landlord Paul Hughes promised to create a friendly atmosphere and a clean pub, serving good beer.

"We are still looking at getting the music back, but not just yet," he said.

"I want this to be a venue for different music tastes. I hope we will stay at the heart of the community."

In the years up to its closure, the Railway developed an excellent reputation for live music, even playing host to rock legends Status Quo.

However, cash flow problems forced the venue to close.

Despite their pleasure at seeing the pub re-open, Mr Upson and Mr Fleming both called for the re-introduction of the live music which regularly saw the pub packed on Friday and Saturday nights.

Mr Upson said: "We're told they are thinking about having live music back and with the size of the pub it has to have the music to get the people in there."

What do you think of the Railway re-opening? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk