Ref. 30098-11WHEN Phil Mercer and Liz Marshall tied the knot they wanted to feel at home, so they married in a pub owned by the brewery where Phil's family has worked for half a century.

Phil, 43, was born and bred in Swindon, the home of Arkell's Brewery, where he went on to work as a technical manager for 25 years.

So when he read in the Evening Advertiser that The Tawny Owl pub, in Taw Hill, was to be the first pub in Swindon where couples can get married, he immediately booked the ceremony.

He said: "You couldn't find a more fitting place for me to get hitched.

"We toasted the occasion with a pint of Arkell's 3B. It's just perfect."

His bride Liz, 41, was equally thrilled and recommended the unorthodox venue. She said: "It may not sound very romantic but we had the most wonderful day."

The ceremony took place in the pub's function room on Saturday and 50 guests attended.

Phil's best man was his brother, Robert, 37, who also works at Arkell's, in Stratton, as a brewing assistant.

They are following in the footsteps of their father, Lou, 78, who was second brewer at the Swindon-based company for 29 years.

Although Phil and Liz both attended Kingsdown School, romance only blossomed decades later, when they ended up living in the same street, Chobham Close.

Phil said: "I took a shine to Liz straight away but didn't fancy my chances.

"To try and catch her attention I set up a neighbourhood watch meeting."

Liz also liked Phil but made him wait three years before letting her true feelings show.

She said: "He used any excuse to come round, like showing holiday pictures or asking me to alter his trousers.

"I was always going to give in and just wanted to be sure."

They had their first date on Phil's 36th birthday. Eight years later he proposed.

Since then the couple, who now live in Windbrook Meadow, have been waiting to find the perfect place to get married.

Surrounded by close family, friends and glorious sunshine at the Tawny Owl, they were more than pleased with their choice.

Phil said: "I couldn't have dreamt it better.

"And there were no nerves because I felt so at home."

Church organist James Greenslade, who also went to school with Phil, added a traditional touch by playing the Bridal Chorus and Wedding March on an electric piano.

After a buffet, the tables were cleared so guests could dance to music selected by the couple.

Phil said: "We just had to play Beautiful Day by U2 because it was the best day ever."

The newly-weds spent the night in a honeymoon suite above the pub. But they are waiting until next month for their real honeymoon, when they will jet out to Dallas.

Phil Britton, 36, the landlord of the Tawny Owl, said: "We couldn't have wished for a more fitting first couple to get married in our pub."

Victoria Tagg