One of the island’s tiniest pubs is making its name as one of the biggest in atmosphere since reopening after the lockdown, says the man at the helm of the newly-named Blind Pig.

Dave Wookey, part owner of the freehouse in Victoria Street, Douglas, said: ’It is a very small pub and if it is not the island’s smallest bar then it is definitely one of the smallest.’

The venue has a varied history. Mr Wookey said the place was once known as Chang’s restaurant and later became the Cork and Bottle before changing its name to the Victoria Tavern. It was then named Olive *’ Twist before its latest incarnation.

Mr Wookey used much of the time spent in the coronavirus closedown refurbishing the one-bar venue.

There is live sport, monthly live music nights, including karaoke, and quiz nights and the space is available for functions.

Mr Wookey came up with the Blind Pig name after a bar with the same name in Fort Collins, Colorado, the US state where his brother lives.

’It’s been absolutely bonkers since we reopened recently’, said Mr Wookey, aged 57.

He has many years of experience in the licensed trade and there is no shortage of stories about the days when he worked at places in the West End of London. He was also at the Old King Lud, Fleet Street, where drinkers included journalists. And he also worked at a hostelry called the Coach and Horses which was a popular haunt of actors. ’I met quite a number of characters in London and I could tell quite a few stories about those days’ said Mr Wookey, who moved to the island in the 1990s.

He is a confirmed fan of champions Liverpool FC and is planning a big celebration on the day when the ’Reds’ receive the Premier League trophy.