PUNTERS raised a glass to celebrate the opening of a Southampton pub.

The Bitterne Park Hotel reopened its doors last night to welcome customers ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend.

The Cobden Avenue pub, dubbed the “centre of the Bitterne community”, is now under the management of Krista Campbell, an experienced publican who has worked at number of pubs in the area.

And the opening night’s celebrations got into full swing when the relaunch was marked with live music from acoustic guitarist Cody.

As previously reported uncertainty that has hung over the pub for more than two years since its closure in January 2014.

Since then the pub, owned by Enterprise Inns, has had three changes of managers, with one lasting just a few days.

But in 2014 the pub was given community asset status by the city council. This means that if the owners wished to close the pub residents would have six months in in which to put together a viable scheme to keep it open.