By Jenni DixonA PUB landlord in a seaside town is refusing to sell beer by the pint - instead thirsty drinkers are served either a half-pint glass or a two-pint jug.

By Jenni Dixon

A PUB landlord in a seaside town is refusing to sell beer by the pint - instead thirsty drinkers are served either a half-pint glass or a two-pint jug.

Nigel France, landlord of the Kings Head in Southwold, has already caused controversy in the resort by banning children and vinegar from his pub.

Mr France's new way of serving beer and lager stems from his dislike of wet, sticky and stained bar counters, table-tops and floors.

He also wants to attract customers, especially women, into a clean and pleasant drinking and eating atmosphere.

“I do not believe anyone at home gets a pint, fills it to the brim and lets it drip down their glass onto kitchen units before carrying it dripping across the flooring and giving it to their guests to make rings on their table-tops,” said Mr France.

“I prefer not to do it in my bar. We have a lovely oak counter which I do not want to cover with mats or towels.

“I personally like the continental approach to drinking where alcohol is secondary to the atmosphere. It's much more sociable taking a pitcher away and topping up other people's glasses.”

Mr France added since he began serving beer in the new style, he had had two men leave on finding out they could not buy a pint, but a lot of praise and support, especially from women.

But drinkers in the High Street pub yesterday lunchtimewere puzzled by the new approach.

Godfrey Avis, who was visiting the town from Hertfordshire, said: “I think it's ridiculous. Pints are a British way of life.”

But his friend, Harry Smithson, said: “I only drink half-pints anyway and am not bothered.”

Peter Custance, from Kessingland, said: “I do not like it. If individuals wanted to come and sit and drink a pint on their own, then they would not be able to.”

A spokesman for Suffolk County Council's trading standards department said there was no problem selling beer in half-pint and two-pint measures, although the two-ping jugs must be clearly stamped.

jenni.dixon@eadt.co.uk