A pub with a turbulent history in recent years is preparing for a fresh start under new owners. 

The Suffolk Punch pub in Norwich Road, Ipswich, has been taken over by new publicans, just a month after the previous owners stepped down.

This will be the fifth time the pub has been taken over in the last 13 months, with the pub closing on four separate occasions.

The most recent owners, Mike and Wendy Smuts, the team behind the Black Horse Inn in Ipswich, took over the pub in January this year before refurbishing it and reopening in February.

The pub was proving a success for months before they decided to step back in August due to the pressures of running two pubs.

Dr Smuts posted on the Suffolk Punch Facebook page that new ownership had been found, noting that they kept the lease going so Stonegate, the pub company in charge of the Suffolk Punch, wouldn't put up boards and security around the outside.

The changeover between ownership was quicker as a result.

On Facebook, the owners have said they will be bringing the pool table back, with darts set to return to the pub soon also.

The pub will also continue to host live music.

A spokesperson for Suffolk Punch, said: "The new publicans will be reopening the popular pub in the near future, with the reopening date being finalised.

"Located on Norwich Road, the Suffolk Punch is an integral part of the community and the new publicans cannot wait to meet guests, both old and new.

"We'll be announcing the reopening date of the pub very soon on our Facebook page."