PUB landlords are gearing up for a busy St Patrick’s Day celebration tomorrow.

As shamrocks, gigantic Guinness hats and pints of Guinness flood pubs up and down the country, town landlords are getting into the spirit of the Emerald Isle.

Audrey Kamugisha, landlady of the Castle Inn, Prospect Place said the team were expecting a jam-packed evening.

“I think it’s going to be very, very busy especially as it’s on a Friday night and the same day as the Cheltenham Gold Cup. We haven’t got any special offers on but there will be live music and we have got lots of Guinness in to prepare for the rush we are going to get.

Aaron Seago, a manager at the town centre’s Savoy pub echoed these sentiments and said he expected a healthy turn-out today.

He said: “Last year it was very busy, it was a bit mad and we had a lot of customers.

“We’re expecting the same this year. We have some big Guinness hats which people can buy for £2 which will go to charity. It is always a busy day for us and because it falls on a Friday we’re expecting the same again.”

The Tap and Barrel pub in Manchester Road will be holding a St Patrick’s Day bash with live music from the Corsairs, plenty of Irish dancing and an evening disco.

But Isobel Ricketts, landlady at the Wheatsheaf in Newport Street, said she was not expecting a huge amount of extra customers.

She said:“We are usually quite busy so it may be a little busier but we aren’t expecting huge amounts of extra customers. We don’t have anything planned specifically for St Patrick’s Day.”

Swindon Bowls Club in Marsh Farm Lane, Shrivenham Road will hold a St Patrick’s Day charity evening in aid of the Brighter Futures Radiotherapy Appeal. This will be held on Saturday (March 18) from 7pm.

And it’s not just pubs that are channelling the spirit of the Irish. St Catherine’s School in Stratton will hold a St Patrick’s Day disco from 7pm today

Wiltshire Police officers will be patrolling the town centre keep the streets safe and ensure any disruption is kept to a minimum.

A spokesman said: “It will be business as usual, officers will be carrying out patrols in the town centre and we would encourage everyone out drinking on Friday to drink responsibly and stay safe. Incidents can be reported via 101 or 999 in an emergency.”