Customers at a town centre pub will be able to purchase items for other visitors in a new 'pay it forward' scheme. 

The Swan in Needham Market has brought in the proposal this month as a way of "making people smile."

Pub-goers can opt to add an extra pint, food or a cup of coffee to their order, before it is stuck on a ticket grabber ready to be used. 

East Anglian Daily Times: The Swan in Needham Market has launched a pay it forward scheme.The Swan in Needham Market has launched a pay it forward scheme. (Image: Charlotte Bond)

"It has been really lovely," said Ysobel Hellon-Warwick, who runs the High Street venue. 

"I had seen it done in places before. We were in a staff meeting and we thought 'Is there a way it can be done?'. 

"People just take it off and say 'can I grab this?' Or, our staff notice somebody has had a bad day or need something to make them smile and they have permission to choose something and offer it to the person."

Having run the scheme for just over a week, it has already been well-received both in the pub and online.

Around seven tickets are currently available to use, with the same number having already been used. 

Miss Hellon-Warwick added: "There was a chap who had come in and he was waiting for the bus, and he didn't have the money for his pint of Guinness. 

"There was a Guinness up there, so one of the locals said we should give him it. 

"It's only little, but it is really lovely. It's been really sweet.

"Slowly but surely, it has taken off."

The pub is run by Miss Hellon-Warwick and her partner, Matt Coleman, after they took on the reins in April 2023. 

Speaking at the time, Miss Hellon-Warwick said: "This pub is a bit of a dream come true. Last year, over a pint of Aspalls, we manifested and said we wanted to do this, and it has happened, almost exactly to the year."