Newtown's longest serving pub landlord will be pulling his final pint after more than 40 "entertaining" years behind the bar.

David 'Taff' Jones, 76, is putting the beer mats away and ringing the bell for last orders for the final time today (Friday, September 23) at The Railway Tavern.

Dubbed a "pioneer" of real ale, The Railway Tavern has been in the Good Beer Guide since 1996, only one of three pubs in the UK to have achieved that accolade which Taff proudly holds.

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"It's been entertaining. We had a good 40 years me and my wife," Taff said. "We've had some good memories over the years with Christmases and New Years. It's a nice family pub.

"I'm going to miss it. Some days I'm on my own now since I lost my wife five years ago. I had to do something and I'm retiring so I decided to sell up and relax.

"I am going to miss the customers but I'm sure I'll still pop in and see them from time to time. I'd like to thank all my customers past and present over the years. It's been a great pleasure and they've been very helpful. I feel very proud actually but it's all down to my customers helping me making it that way."

Ian 'Ozz' Austin, a pub regular for 28 years, said: "It's the end of an era because they were a proper old school landlord and landlady. They made you feel part of the family. Coming in here was like walking into my front room. They've been absolutely superb."

As Montgomeryshire branch chairman of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), Ozz said the beer quality at the Railway Tavern has been "superb".

"I always recommend this place. It's been in the Good Beer Guide almost constantly since 1996 and with him being the longest serving landlord in Newtown he'd done a brilliant job. He's always looking at trying to get something different from the rest of town. He has been a pioneer in that way. It's only been a couple of pubs that have been in the beer guide as long as he has in the whole country. He's done a really good job and been a really brilliant landlord."

Terry Lewis has been drinking at The Railway Tavern for around 30 years. He said: "It's my favourite pub and I rarely go anywhere else. We have a good craic in here, this pub is noted for that. I'd like to wish Taff all the very best and I hope to still see him."

The new owners of the Railway Tavern will be welcoming regulars and new customers from next week.