SWINDON’S only LGBT venue is to lose its much-loved landlord of almost seven years after he took the difficult decision to move to pastures new.

Martin Jones, 49, has thrown himself into making the Mailcoach, and its sister pub the Locomotive, a popular nightspot.

But last week Martin, who is loved by all, announced that the time had come to move on, and although it was a difficult decision to leave the Fleet Street pub, he was confident it was the right thing to do.

He said: “I’ll be really sad to leave. I have loved every minute of it and it has been like a family to me.

“I wish to thank everyone in the community for their support throughout the years and I’m sure the pub will have a promising future.”

The Mailcoach has been an LGBT venue for almost 20 years and is a popular destination for revellers during Swindon and Wiltshire Pride.

“It will feel strange being a customer – I imagine it will still feel like my pub in a way, but I will always be in the background to assist,” he said.

Martin described the move as “a new chapter in my life” and hasn’t yet decided which project he will throw himself into next.

Mailcoach bar manager Tibbles Blackman, 27, whom Martin refers to as his “best shot seller”, said: “When I first started, he made me feel so welcome and he created a small family within the pub.

“It will be a shame to see him leave as he's played a massive part in the LGBT community.

“I've been through a lot since I've been working for him and he has helped me enormously. He has always offered an ear to listen to anything I've had to tell him.

“Martin will always be part of the bar in some way or another.”

Tibbles, who has worked at the Mailcoach since 2015, described his friend and boss as the “kindest, most helpful person you'll meet” and wished him all the best for the future.

After Martin had announced his departure, some feared that the Mailcoach and the Locomotive would have to close if landlords Enterprise were unable to find someone else to run it.

But those fears seem to have been allayed after the company confirmed its commitment to the bar.

A spokesman from Enterprise said: “We are in talks with our publican at the moment regarding his future at the pub. However, we aim to keep open and trading the town’s only LGBTQ pub.”

Martin is expected to hand over the keys in September and will no doubt get a warm send off from regulars.

Marc Schofield, who has helped Martin run the venue for almost seven years, said: “We wish Martin all the best for his next venture.

“He has been an important part of the LGBT community, has always helped with Pride and has always let the committee use his venue for many different events.

“He has worked hard to bring the LGBT pub back to life after it closed its doors in 2010 and he will be missed by all in the community.”