A WELL-KNOWN Newport pub was officially reopened on Saturday in a ceremony led by the city’s mayor who is also a relative of the pub's namesake.

The Tom Toya Lewis on Commercial Street was formerly owned by national chain JD Wetherspoons, but was put up for auction in February this year.

The pub was purchased by Warrington based Close Community Ltd and was opened by mayor and the great-grandson of Tom Toya Lewis, David Fouweather.

Alison Harrison, deputy manager of The Tom Toya Lewis, who previously worked at the venue when it was a Wetherspoons pub, said there had already been a soft launch opening, but they wanted a formal one as well.

“The mayor was really keen on doing something as he is a relation, and we had a local historian help us with all the information and pictures on Tom Toya Lewis,” said Ms Harrison. “My sons came in and they presented some flowers and a gift to the mayor and mayoress.

“It was lovely and we enjoyed our opening last Friday but we decided to do that as a soft launch but we wanted a opening with the mayor as the pub is named after his great grandfather. It’s been so lovely to see the regulars again and they’re happy we’re open.”

The Tom Toya Lewis is named after a teenage boy who became a city hero after he helped save lives during the Newport dock disaster of 1909.