ONE of the best known faces in Saltcoats had a lot to celebrate this weekend.
Sunday, June 2, was a momentous occasion for Laura Local, who was celebrating 15 years as the 'gaffer' of the Albion Bar.
The busy town centre bar, known as the longest running pub in Saltcoats, is one which means a lot to Laura and her family.
The Albion has been in the Local family for 22 years now, with Laura taking over from her papa Robert in 2009 after he ran the pub for seven years.
The current manageress says that the customers over the years have also come to feel like part of her family.
She commented: “It seems like yesterday it was my 10th anniversary.
“I love it. I cannot imagine doing anything else, even if it does come with its stresses.
“The Albion means a lot to me. The customers through the years and the staff are like family.
“It’s my safe place. It has got me through a lot of times; it’s like home.”
Ahead of a special event hosted at the bar on Sunday to celebrate the milestone, Laura took time to reflect further on her time at the Albion so far.
Typically known as one of the town's busiest bars, whether that be on a Saturday night or Wednesday morning, she says that keeping up with the times, while never forgetting their midweek regulars, has been a key to thriving through the years.
Laura took over with little experience in the trade, having only worked weekends when Robert was at the helm.
She said: “Sometimes I don’t take enough credit for what I have actually done.
“When my papa had it, it was like an old man’s pub. I still have my older regulars through the day but it’s a younger crowd at night.
“Through the years you start to lose a few of the characters, so you need to think of what you are going to do next.
“Don’t ask me how I’ve done it. I've just done it, and I’ve got a lot of years left in me.”
And Laura says that Robert, who celebrated his 80th birthday the day after her own celebration, has always been great for a helping hand whenever she needs it.
“I still phone him for advice," she added.
The manager also recalled many fond memories from over the years, though she admitted it was a struggle to pin down just one which stood out.
Speaking after Sunday's event, Laura said: “I would just like to thank all our staff, customers and entertainers – without them The Albion wouldn’t be the place that it is.
"I had an absolute ball from start to finish and I want to thank everyone for coming and making it a cracking day.
"Also to all my staff and regulars for their wonderful gifts - it really isn’t just a pub, it’s a big, massive family."
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