A pub landlady believes her "impressive" pub, The Millhouse in Warrington, is a lucky mascot for Luke Littler, 16, as proud staff and customers continue to gather there to cheer him on.
Lisa Leyland has been running the pub for the last five years, and Luke's older brother Leon Littler, 20, works behind the bar. Leon was on shift as he watched his younger brother thrash Brendan Dolan 5-1 in the quarterfinals on New Year's Day.
He, along with many others, returned on Tuesday to witness Luke's semi-final victory over Rob Cross, and now Lisa hopes it'll be third time lucky in her pub tonight.
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Lisa said "The Millhouse is a proper local pub at the heart of the community. Luke's stunning performance is particularly close to us all – not least because Leon works here too and we've been watching Luke's success together.
"We feel like an extra lucky mascot The atmosphere is always warm and friendly here but it has been absolutely electric and fantastic during Luke's matches. We're really hoping we'll be the lucky charm for Luke, we're sure he'll win.”
Leon has spoken of how the sport has always been his brother’s first love and said the support of his dad Anthony, a taxi driver, and mum Lisa, who works in a scented candle shop, was key. He said: "He’d play darts whenever he could, sometimes just stopping to eat a meal before starting again.
"If Mum and Dad tried to take the darts away from him there’d be a real scene with him crying loudly."
The Millhouse was founded back in 1974 and has been in the same family for six generations. It has an average Google rating of 4.4 out of a possible five stars, with one recent reviewer calling the pub "impressive", adding: "We will be back soon, steak and ale pie was the best I've ever had".
A second said: "Great pub, nice staff and excellent beer. I would really recommend the food too".
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