Campaign to get Shrewsbury landlady Lin back
The landlady of a pub says she has been left heartbroken after shutting up shop because she was struggling to make ends meet.
Lin Forbes, who has run the Steam Wagon Inn on Mount Pleasant Road in Shrewsbury for the past three years, said pubs in general were struggling and said she had reluctantly been forced to close, despite strong support from regulars.
More than 200 people signed up to a Facebook page called "Get The Wagon Open And Lin Back" after the pub closed.
Although Lin will not be returning to the pub, officials at Punch Taverns have said the pub will re-open soon under new licensee Claire Beck.
Lin said: "We had a really happy time but pubs are struggling.
"It wasn't a decision I took lightly because it was a great community pub, it was not just about having a drink."
Lin's four children pitched in and helped with the running of the pub. She said: "The great thing was that everyone became involved, we had a darts team, a dominoes team, a pool team.
She added: "They really helped me try to stay open and everyone pulled together."
Lin said she had been buoyed by the fantastic support she received from her customers and said she had many happy memories.
She added thousands of pounds had been raised for charity at the pub while she was landlady.
