It has been great to see Hitchin flourish once again as lockdown continues to ease - including our town's renowned public houses.

None more so than Molly Malones on Nightingale Road after it reopened to punters last month.

With pubs set to welcome drinkers inside from May 17, many have already sampled the excellent new outdoor area at Mollys - but have YOU?

Hitchin Nub News paid a visit to Mollys to speak with new landlady Clare Waller who, along with her staff, have been busy welcome punters through the doors over the last month.

"Molly's has been a traditional old community boozer and we want that again. It's been good to reopen as the 'new Mollys'.

"Our prices are very reasonable, we are one of the cheapest in town. Why not come down and sample our welcoming atmosphere at the 'new Mollys'.

"At least I haven't forgotten how to pour a pint. Molly's was always renowned for its Guinness and we've still got it on tap - you can even have it in our new Guinness pod if you're lucky enough to get in there!"

Former regulars have been pleasantly surprised after visiting the new Mollys after Clare and her team have been busy putting together a stunning new beer garden.

"We've stripped all the insides," hard-working Clare told HNN, adding: 'We've given it a good old clean and repainted everything. It's fair to say we've been busy, painting, painting, painting!

"All the workmen who were here also loved it. They said it's like a beach but without the seagulls! I'm sick of the site of paint now!

"To get ready we've stripped the insides and give it a good old clean. I carried on cleaning upstairs and in the meantime the brewery built us a special Guinness pod for our outdoor area.

"We've been busy painting tables and getting plants in to make it ready. It's a nice little oasis out here now."

The pub is not doing a booking system, rather they operate on a first come, first served.

Clare added: "It's a place to chill out and have fun. We want to make it a community place again.

"It's had a bit of a stigma attached to it and we want to make it more of a community based pub once again."

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