BOSSES at the new Marston’s pub in Stevenston have made a u-turn and changed their phone number following a Kilwinning family’s nightmare few weeks of nuisance calls.

The Red Squirrel, which opened in Ashenyards Retail Park last month, caved to pressure and have now managed to get a new phone number despite the fact that they claimed before that it would not be possible.

Last week the Times reported that the McMillan family were pulling their hair out because their phone number was so similar to the new boozer and they were getting calls from customers trying to book tables, despite the fact that the Red Squirrel don’t take bookings.

Jennifer McMillan explained what happened to make Marston’s, the owners of the pub and restaurant, to cave.

She said: “Avril Lothian, the area manager, had phoned to say that say that she didn’t think there would be able to do much and then I was made aware that the Lodge there has the same number so I thought it was going to get worse with hotel bookings and party nights for Christmas.

“She said ‘leave it with me’ and the number was changed that day which was amazing seeing they couldn’t do it before.

“She said that their marketing strategy, menus and stuff like booking.com would have to be changed.

“She basically said she had called the provided to change it in the morning and by the afternoon it had changed.

“I was told it would take time for the changeover to happen.”

Despite this, Jennifer and her family have received no apology from the firm.

She added: “We had no apology. Not even a ‘sorry about this’. I’m not looking for a big gesture or anything it’s more about getting it changed.”

Marston’s declined to comment.