GAZETTE: NEARLY four months ago Leighton Davis gave up a successful job as a retail manager and pledged to revamp a rundown town centre pub.

Two weeks ago the freshly painted doors of the Gladstone Arms in Gladstone Road, were opened.

Formally the Borough Arms, Mr Davis battled to improve the vandalised building and overcome the previous bad reputation in the hope of making it a success.

"It's absolutely fantastic. I didn't think it would come together as well as it has," he said. "On the last day it just came together."

Mr Davis, 31, who grew up in Chippenham, is a former manager of a mobile communications store, but has now embarked on a life-long dream to run his own pub and restaurant.

"For a long time I've always wanted my own restaurant," he said. "I've always liked holding dinner parties and I just wanted to see if I could do it."

Family and friends helped Mr Davis completely transform the pub from its rough state to a classy wine bar.

"This is the classiest pub in town," he said.

"People won't come near the place because of the old reputation but I want people to see how much it's changed.

"I'm trying to do the country pub thing in the town."

Mr Davis has also designated the left hand bar non-smoking, which he says is a first for Chippenham.