A Swindon landlord who has stood at the heart of his community for 24 years has revealed the struggles of running a community pub and just why they're so important.

The Swiss Chalet in Gorse Hill was built in 1964 and is almost immediately recognisable because of its sweeping chalet-style roof that looks like it's come straight from the Alps.

Although it has never claimed to be the fanciest pub around, the Chalet offers what many people find hard to find these days - a warm old-fashioned community feel.

The moment I walked in the door I was made to feel like I had known the pub-goers for years, and according to landlord John Honeyman that's exactly why it's so important pubs like this stays alive.

"Everyone's struggling to pay the bills in the industry at the moment," he told the Adver.

"But our pub is special because it's just got that warm feel here. We don't serve food, but everyone's there for each other, you know?

The sense of community at the Swiss Chalet is like no otherThe sense of community at the Swiss Chalet is like no other (Image: Swiss Chalet)

"Everyone that walks through that door is made to feel like a friend straight away and that's invaluable, especially these days when there's a lot of hate and people disconnected on their phones.

"I'm just trying to keep the pub going really, for the community we've built here."

The Swiss Chalet also prides itself in being a beacon of fundraising in the Gorse Hill community with its weekly pub quiz.

Since John has been landlord, the pub has raised just under a quarter of a million pounds for charity.

"This is a pub for raising money, that's for sure," he said.

"We're working really hard to help Prospect Hospice at the moment and on a Thursday we do a quiz to raise money.

"That's been quite successful with five or six teams each week, although we'd always love more.

John Honeyman (right) has been landlord of the pub since 2000John Honeyman (right) has been landlord of the pub since 2000 (Image: Newsquest)

"It's also been very good here with darts recently, and we have live music often as well.

"We have all the youth darts here and we have our own darts league. It's on most nights of the week too."

But despite being sporting fans and with a name like Swiss Chalet, the staff has made it very clear that in this year's Olympic games, they will only be supporting Great Britain and not Switzerland.

"Did you know during the Euros we actually changed our name temporarily because we didn't want to show support to Switzerland over England?" John laughed.

"We're Team GB all the way."