Hitchin Nub News is delighted to announce a brilliant pub in our town as our What's On sponsor.

Molly Malones on Nightingale Road is an acclaimed public house that plays a huge part in our community.

Clare Waller is Molly's renowned landlady who has rejuvenated the popular pub, and is a force for good in our town, with the establishment often providing the platform for charity collections and community events. (See Hitchin Nub News for more on their heartening Easter egg collection later this week.)

Molly's aim is to provide the most welcoming environment to its legion of locals, complete with the best ales available while playing host to live music and a wealth of sociable community events.

Hitchin Nub News popped in for a pint to savour the unique Molly's atmosphere recently.

Renowned landlady Clare told us: "We are delighted for Molly's to team up with Nub News to sponsor the What's On section.

"Nub News is at the heart of the community with its Hitchin-based stories, you also kindly ran a piece on us when we first opened after lockdown

"We are a community-minded pub that welcomes everyone. We also support good causes and help provide a platform for charity collections.

"We've always been proactive in terms of 'Nubbing Events' - adding our events onto your What's On section for example.

"Molly's is definitely a live events pub - and a sports pub too," explains good-natured Clare, adding: "We're always showing sport. From cricket to football to rugby - especially rugby. Horse racing too, Cheltenham and of course, the Grand National which is coming up soon. We sometimes do drink deals that coincide with big sports events that we're showing."

Molly's offers a wealth of sports on its screens, from big boxing prize fights, to the Six Nations rugby, to the England football team - and everything in between. The pub is also the official home of the Hitchin Gooners, where passionate Arsenal supporters from the town, meet to discuss the Premier League table toppers.

"There is a real community feel. For example on St Patrick's Dat we didn't stop all day - it was hardcore," smiles Clare, adding: "We had disco and karaoke that day, as well as local live music - and we had a guy dressed as a Leprehacun all day. It was good fun."

The unique atmosphere at Molly's is testament to the welcome you get the second you walk through the door.

Clare explains: "What I like about what we're doing is that we're getting more and more women through the doors too. Especially on a Friday. It's all ages. Everyone gets on. Everyone has common interests, whether it be sport or music.

"There's no trouble. It makes me feel feel proud that everyone enjoys themselves and gets on, whether it's for a sing-song or a game of pool.

"I'm so chilled out and I think that is reflected in the atmosphere - and it all flows from there.

"I love what I do - even though at the end of the night I'm knackered," sociable Clare jokes.

Clare explains that Molly's mission is ensuring every single punter has a good time at Molly's. She adds that once people sample the atmosphere, they usually return.

"We had one women who came in to watch a game. She loved it here and we had a good giggle at the bar - and she came back and booked her birthday party here. She said to me: 'That's it now - I'm a Molly's girl now.'

"She even brought her mate who enjoyed the laughs we were having," bubbly Clare jokes.

Molly's also provides a welcoming harbour for those having a bad day.

"If someone is having a tough day, our door is always open," says empathetic Clare. "It's warm in here and I'm always here to listen," the caring landlady adds.

"People will always know I'm here for them to help them through their day. That's what it's about - it's all about community.

"We're like a community hub. I class my work as community work. People enjoy coming here."

Clare is proud of the fact that Molly's is a pillar of the community, the way traditional pubs used to be.

"We also do a lot of charity work. We've been busy collection Easter eggs for the food bank - we're also raising money and awareness of mental health. We're raising money for a defibrillator. It's about helping our community, because we're part of that community.

"The more people know about our place, the better."

Molly's is a also big backer of local live music. 'If someone is starting out and they'd like to do an impromptu night then we're more than happy to give them a platform. Our door is always open - just rock up and do it.

"Some of the talent you see in the Market Square you think they should be playing live. The atmosphere here when a live band is great - so why not come down and rock your socks off."

The popular pub which can trace its roots back to the 19th century is named after road it stands on, which in turn was named after a former nearby orchard, which was full of nightingales.

No wonder Hitchin is renowned for the quality of its pubs. And there is a camaraderie there between the various establishments in our town. Clare agrees. "We all help one another out."

Nub News welcomes Molly's as our What's On sponsor

Nub News supremo Karl Hancock has also hailed the deal between Nub News and Molly Malones.

Mr Hancock, CEO of Nub News, said: "We are delighted to be partnering with a local business such as Molly Malones.

"Its values are echoed throughout Nub News, and we are so pleased to be working with Clare and the team at Molly's."

Having Molly's on board as Hitchin Nub News first What's On sponsor is a landmark moment as Nub News continues to revolutionise news reporting and bring back local coverage to local communities.

Mr Hancock added, saying: "Molly Malones pub is an ideal partner to work with because, like Nub News, the local community is at the heart of what it does.

"We want to give the community a voice, and our sponsors and across the country - including Molly Malones in North Hertfordshire - play a crucial part in helping us to do that.

"This sponsorship enables us to provide What's On listings without any of the annoying Google Ads, pop-up surveys and clickbait you find on so many other websites owned by bigger companies."