A BOOZER in Worcester has reopened, but new management have admitted they must turn its reputation around to thrive.

Woobar on St Nicholas Street closed earlier this month, as reported by your Worcester News.

Matt Harris has taken over the lease and said the first couple of weeks had been an uphill struggle.

However, Mr Harris, who previously managed a nightclub in Kidderminster, is optimistic the pub can be a success.

He said: "Saturdays haven't been too bad but the rest of the week it's been a bit of a battle to get people through the door.

"The bar had a bit of a bad reputation from its Metro days and there's still a lot of stigma with it.

"Our biggest thing is to change that - we're aiming more for the student market and want to change peoples' perceptions of it."

Mr Harris decided to take over the lease at Woobar, which is owned by Punch Taverns, as he was impressed by its location.

He said: "I just thought it was time for a change and I liked the idea of being in the city centre and being able to trade all day and not just on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

"We're optimistic we can turn it around, just by getting people through the door and having a look at the place."

Previous landlady Zoe Hannay, who ran Woobar with her husband Roy, admitted on Facebook that they had been unable to repair Woobar's reputation.

The Hannays rebranded the drinking establishment from its previous Guise as Metro and carried out a refurbishment of the interior.

She wrote on the Worcester Pubs -Then and Now page: "We took on a pub with a seriously bad reputation and hoped to turn it around...

"I've spent the last 17 months battling my corner for the Woobar, trying to change its reputation and change people's minds on the place.

"Quite frankly I'm exhausted by it. I can happily say not my problem anymore."

The bar is open from 11am to 11pm from Sunday to Thursday and from 11am to 1am on Friday and Saturday.