The landlady of a pint-sized city centre pub, which is also a Thai restaurant, celebrated 15 years at the helm in style.

Aey Allen, 52, moved from Bangkok to Norwich in 2000 and in 2008 she signed a 20-year lease at The Vine in Dove Street. 

The pub, thought to be the smallest in the city, dates back to 1842 and before Ms Allen took it on it had been shut for two years.

Norwich Evening News: Aey Allen behind the bar at The Vine in Dove Street Aey Allen behind the bar at The Vine in Dove Street (Image: Newsquest)

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While keeping its traditional roots, she has spiced things up by launching a Thai restaurant there too, serving curries, soups, dumplings and more. 

She likes to think of it as a "two-in-one" premises, with the ground floor pub offering a range of beers, including real ale, on tap and a more formal dining area upstairs. 

Norwich Evening News: Aey Allen with Buddhist monks in The Vine for a blessing to celebrate 15 years Aey Allen with Buddhist monks in The Vine for a blessing to celebrate 15 years (Image: The Vine)

November 15 2023 marks 15 years of Ms Allen's tenancy and she held a blessing from Buddhist monks on Tuesday to celebrate, with a party for customers on Wednesday. 

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Ms Allen said: "One of the big highlights over the last 15 years has been the Norwich Beer Festival nearby at The Halls, which gives me my peak week every year.  

"Many customers find us as we are in the CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) Good Beer Guide and then they discover that we do Thai cuisine too.

Norwich Evening News: Aey Allen outside The Vine pub and Thai restaurant in Norwich Aey Allen outside The Vine pub and Thai restaurant in Norwich (Image: Newsquest)

"I never thought running a pub would be easy and with Covid and then the cost of living crisis you have to keep going and fighting.

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Norwich Evening News: Aey Allen gave cupcakes to customers to celebrate 15 years at the helm of The Vine Aey Allen gave cupcakes to customers to celebrate 15 years at the helm of The Vine (Image: The Vine)

"I work very hard six or seven days a week to keep the costs down - we have good and bad days but our customers are fantastic." 

As she looks ahead to at least another five years at the helm of The Vine, Ms Allen is planning to expand the drinks offering.

The opening times are 11am to 10pm Monday to Saturday.