The landlady of one of Liverpool's most loved pubs has reached an important milestone of 30 years behind the bar.
Rita Smith, 83, took over Peter Kavanagh's on Egerton Street in the Georgian Quarter on 19 March 1992 - in an area where she has lived all her life. Rita has welcomed thousands of drinkers of all ages through the doors of the pub during that time, which she says has the same rules as her own home.
An eclectic mix of items adorn the walls of the Toxteth boozer from old radios to musical instruments and even containers filled with the ashes of former punters, who Rita describes as family.
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The 83-year-old became the landlady shortly after retiring from her job as a cleaner. Thinking back to where it all started 30 years ago, Rita told the ECHO: "I came in the pub to see what it was all about and it was just a feeling that's where I sort of belonged if that makes sense, like when you go to look at a house and you think this is it.
"It wasn't until a few days into taking over the pub that I knew what I wanted to do and what I needed to do."
Rita said the retro items on the ceilings and walls are conversation starters and have helped build up a sense of community in the pub, breaking the ice between strangers at the bar. They also serve as reminders of the past, with the items including everything from old irons to gas masks.
Rita said: "It's very quirky and the things around are either memories or what people have had in their house; they want a little piece of something in the pub or they're things I've bought because it's Liverpool history. It's just stuff but it's good memories and it gets people talking."
Rita said she wanted to create a sense of community in the pub, and "a place for people of a certain age to go to where they feel comfortable and safe." She said: "Sometimes at my age now, you're too old to go to town - well I'm not, I still have a go - but that's people's opinion; 'you're too old to go to town' but you're not too old to go out and enjoy yourself.
"It's a place where people can come in, have a drink and talk to somebody. It is important - people need to be socialising. Humour I think is the most important thing, you can't go through life without humour.
"I just know it's a good little pub. I don't tolerate bad behaviour, I like good manners. People say they feel safe when they come in the pub. People love the pub, they say the atmosphere in the pub is good.
"I don't know if I'm doing right or wrong, I just know whatever I do it's like running your own house - you expect your own rules in your pub as you do in your own house. It doesn't feel like 30 years - I feel like I went to bed and woke up and 30 years have gone."
