Loyal regular of Malmesbury’s Three Cups pub Andy Denly will now be seen on the other side of the bar after he fulfilled a long ambition and bought into the business.

Mr Denly, 39, known as Bunge, has been drinking at the pub in The Triangle for more than 20 years and unsuccessfully tried to take over the premises in the past.

So when landlord Lee Goodship offered him the chance to buy a 50 per cent stake in the lease he jumped at the chance.

Mr Denly, who is married with a four-year-old son, Callum, said: “I grew up in Corn Gastons so it’s always been my local.

“Having been drinking there for so long I started to think how great it would be to own a pub, so when Lee suggested it I snapped his hand off.”

Being on the other side of the bar is a strange transition. “It does feel a bit weird,” he said. “When I came in to have a drink I used to give the bar staff some stick but now I’m on the other side I need to be a bit more polite.”

Mr Denly, of Old Alexander Road, works for Honda in Swindon and, with the recent work stoppage and cut in overtime, he wanted another form of income to fall back on.

His wife, Debbie, who works at Great Western Hospital in Swindon, is backing him and is excited about the new venture.

Mr Denly said: “Hopefully she’ll come down and help out with a few shifts.”

He and some friends tried to buy the business a few years ago but the lease was sold to someone else.

“Lee took over five years ago and we got on really well straight from the start,” he said. “We’ve got a good rapport. I think it is going to be a big success.”

Mr Goodship was keen to have someone with local connections on board. He said: “Bunge is born and bred in Malmesbury so knows everybody, it’s always good to have someone with that connection.”

The partners are investing in extra TV screens for the football season and are keen to develop the outside bar area for functions.