Tony Shawcross estimates that £600,000 has been lost over the last two years as a result of flooding to the cellar bar of the Alum Ale House.

Plans to open that bar have been put on hold as a result of ongoing problems.

But now he is hopeful that Northumbrian Water's installation of two valves at the premises will prevent further flooding.

And if all goes to plan, the cellar bar will reopen in December.

It's one of a raft of ambitious improvements to the riverside watering hole, which dates back to 1727.

This includes the installation of a ramp to make the bar wheelchair friendly, wooden decking and benches outside the pub, and new hi-tech CCTV and fire systems.

Mr Shawcross, who is joint licensee with his partner Tessa Gosling, said: "I come from a mechanical engineering background, and I'm quietly confident the work Northumbrian Water is carrying out can eradicate the problem.

"The cellar will be a real ale bar featuring a variety of live jazz and folk music.

"There's a large audience for live music. We get a lot of retired people in the bar on Tuesday who go on to watch the jazz at The Porthole, in North Shields, on a Tuesday night.

"In a difficult time for the trade, the Alum is actually expanding and becoming more popular."

A spokesman for Northumbrian Water said the work being carried out would "significantly reduce the risk of flooding".