THE writing really is on the wall in Liden after a pub landlord used copies of the Adver to wallpaper his chimney breast.

Dave Howells, 63, who runs The Liden Arms in Barrington Close, was renovating the inside of the pub and wanted to come up with a novel idea for decorating one of the walls.

Not content with the wallpaper choices in the local DIY stores or a plain old pot of paint, Dave turned to his back catalogue of the Swindon Advertiser for inspiration.

Now, the chimney breast of the newly decorated pub is covered from floor to ceiling in Adver front pages – a real life library of tales from the town from over the past two years.

Dave said: “I’m not really sure how I first thought of it. It was probably some time last year when I had the idea and started keeping all the front pages.

“I do that anyway with important stuff, royal weddings and big events, I wrap them in cling film – not for me but for the grandkids, it’s history.”

The wall boasts a wide selection of stories, everything from chaotic council tales to the latest criminal sagas from Swindon’s courts.

There are even a couple of nostalgia pages thrown in for good measure.

While most of the stories may be fairly recent now, in years to come customers at the pub will be able to look over the wall and reminisce about faces and notable events from the past.

A self-proclaimed ‘old school landlord’, Dave wanted to bring a touch of something different to the pub he took over around 18 months ago.

“It adds a bit of character,” he said. “Puts a personal touch on the place.”

Dave has been working in the pub trade for over 25 years.

He spent eight years at the old Rifleman’s Hotel on Regent Street and has been with Swindon’s Arkells brewery now for almost 20 years including a long stint with his name above the door at the Boundary House in Moredon.

He has seen a lot of changes during that time and believes that real community pubs like The Liden Arms are more important today than they’ve ever been.

“The drinking culture is changing and a lot of pubs are closing,” he said.

“But we still have our regulars and this area has that great community spirit. It’s warm and welcoming – it’s a good local pub.”

The sign at the entrance reads ‘if you ain’t smiling on the way in, you’ll be laughing on the way out’ and that is a mantra that Dave tries to live by each time he opens the doors.