A NEWPORT woman who has recently taken over a popular Newport pub has said she believes Newport is an up-and-coming city.

Nicky Mackenzie, 55, has taken over the Handpost on Risca Road.

Born and bred in Newport, the resident of Fields Park Road, Ridgeway, said: “I’ve been on the trade for 18 years and I’ve put my investment into Newport.

“With Friars Walk, Glan Llyn, new builds everywhere around Newport, I told myself to go for it.

“It’s a big step but I know it’s going to work.

“I was really happy when I saw the Argus Backing Newport campaign.”

Miss Mackenzie was previously the manager of the Rat and Parrot pub in Newport for six years, before taking the reins at Newport’s Yates for a year, and then Swansea Yates for eight years.

Miss Mackenzie said she "really excited" to run her own pub for the first time and has many plans for the venue.

“I started running the pub on Monday and is going well, the clientele is lovely,” she said. “I’ll be extending food times and will be investing upstairs, turning the seven rooms into a bed and breakfast.

“We’ll have comedy nights, quiz nights and poker nights.”

Miss Mackenzie said that she’ll be running charity nights in aid of the blind and Tuberous Sclerosis TSA.

“My daughter was born with the condition, so it’s very close to my heart,” she added.

Before Miss Mackenzie, the pub was run by Carol and Winston Chapman.

The pair have owned also owned a number of other pubs across Gwent, including The Inbetween in Usk for 25 years, and The Old Barn Inn on Magor Road, Llanmartin.

South Wales Argus: