PUNTERS have tasted sweet success after they won a battle to reopen their pub.

Managers at The Dog in Chatteris have been engaged in a tug-of-war with Punch Taverns ever since the landlord took away the pub’s licence to sell alcohol because of underage drinking concerns.

However The Dog bit back and disputed the claims, winning a temporary premises licence from Fenland District Council in the process.

But their fight to survive is far from over as they still have to contest Punch Tavern’s ruling in the courts.

Owner Nigel Marsh, who bought the pub for his sons Arron and Andre to run in November 2009, said: “This is great news for our customers.

“Not many pubs have a good story to tell at the moment. The fact that we are a pub that has gone against the tide and fought to stay open is a really good story.”

Beers began to flow at The Dog last Friday (June 18) - just in time for the England game against Algeria.

Regulars have come in to congratulate the owners for their resilience and have pledged to continue to support the pub in its fight for survival.

Attention now turns to a hearing at Peterborough County Court in a couple of weeks time, when The Dog’s lawyers will argue about the terms of the lease.

Mr Marsh says Punch Taverns refused to transfer the lease to him after he agreed to take it over from previous managers Tim and Catherine Ablett.

Fenland District Council then reported concerns about underage drinking but a Freedom of Information request showed it was just a single report from a ward councillor.

Police later stepped in to say they had no concerns about the pub.

A date for The Dog’s next court hearing is yet to be announced.