THE popular Irish pub Daisy O’Briens, in Old Christchurch Road, has re-opened.

“Daisy’s”, as it is known, has been shut for trading since last Wednesday after the licensee Mike Park blamed the recession for its unavoidable closure.

But its many locals were pleasantly surprised when it opened as normal after Mike and his landlords “renegotiated a more realistic deal”.

Mike said: “The original deal was negotiated eight and a half years ago and since that the smoking ban and then the recession has meant a huge drop in trade.”

He added that before deciding to close the pub, they were not even breaking even but now they are in a “more realistic trading position for the current climate”.

“I was absolutely gutted when I thought the pub would be closing for good because I’ve been there for so long.

“It’s cracking to be given another chance with the potential of trading through these difficult times.”