The future of a music mecca in Ipswich has been secured thanks to its dedicated landlady.
Val Bint, landlady of the Steamboat Tavern, has bought the pub from owners Greene King so she can make sure it remains a platform for up and coming music talent.
The pub, in New Cut West, near the town’s main Waterfront area, has become known as a venue for live music since Val became landlady several years ago.
She said: “This is a pub for the live music community of Ipswich and Suffolk. People come here from a wide area. The town needs live music venues.
“You could say I have secured the pub for live music. It is the way I have taken it here. I made a wish to buy The Steamboat – and it came true.
“Purchasing any commercial property especially, I suspect, a pub, is a scary prospect and securing the finance is definitely not to be dealt with by amateurs.”
The Steamboat has provided a platform for both developing and established talent in rock, folk, blues and jazz.
Val added: “There have been some great ones like Underline the Sky who are doing well and gone to the V Festival, and Ed Sheeran.
“There are a lot of other talented people in the town who have been playing good music many years and they are still great at doing it.”
Val has worked in the pub and entertainment business for more than 20 years, and previously ran the Earl Kitchener in Cox Lane, Ipswich.