An award-winning Swindon pub has debunked an 'urban myth' on a famous XTC song believed to be linked to it.

The Hop Inn has been at Old Town’s Devizes Road since 2012 and has since expanded from its first location, now known as The Little Hop, to move next door.

Since then the pub duo, co-owned by Jason Putt and Karen Griesel, have become favourites amongst locals and have won multiple awards.

Swindon Advertiser: The Hop Inn is a firm favourite of locals in Swindon.The Hop Inn is a firm favourite of locals in Swindon. (Image: Dave Cox)

Gary Hazell has been a barman at the pub since 2019 and is proud of how far The Hop has come in recent years.

“It’s great being in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide once again and last year we were their Swindon and North Wilts Pub of the Year,” he said.

“We’re the current Swindon and North Wilts Cider Pub of the Year since spring of this year.

“I buy the cider myself so personally that is a lovely achievement and we are only the second pub here to win it after The Glue Pot.”

Swindon Advertiser: The Hop Inn offers a variety of drinks and food inside.The Hop Inn offers a variety of drinks and food inside. (Image: The Hop Inn)

The 61-year-old also debunked a myth that Swindon rock band XTC’s 1979 hit song ‘Life Begins at the Hop’ was written about the location.

“It is definitely an urban myth as we have only been for around a decade but we thank them anyway,” joked Gary.

“I think it more likely to have been about dance moves than the pub but we do play XTC in the pub occasionally because it mentions The Hop.

“We were called The Hobgoblin 30 years ago and I was a doorman back in those days but others will know it as The Fountain from its time in the 1980s.”

Swindon Advertiser: The Hop Inn has plenty of seating inside.The Hop Inn has plenty of seating inside. (Image: The Hop Inn)

The pub specialises in unique beers as well as a varied selection of street food dishes that keep Swindonians coming back.

“We don’t do any mainstream brands at all they’re always from microbreweries so the general public might not know about them.

“Inside we have a great range of beers as well as craft beers in kegs and bottles.

“We do food including burgers, loaded fries and even bratwurst so we offer something different.”

Swindon Advertiser: The Hop Inn was won several awards since opening just over a decade ago.The Hop Inn was won several awards since opening just over a decade ago. (Image: The Hop)

Entertainment is also a core value of the pub’s mantra with both live music and comedy offered regularly.

“We have a monthly comedy night where we get relatively big names on the comedy circuit as well as having live music upstairs,” said Gary.

“It is very important for the pub to offer this as it is really great for business as we were crazy busy when the Swindon Shuffle was on.”