Pub hopes new idea will bring in the treasure

Treasure hunts organised by parties visiting a pub have inspired the licensees to try and raise extra booty for themselves.

Cerian Owen and Nick Lye, of the Sun Inn, in Lydiard Millicent, near Swindon, are encouraging groups of people to take part in the team-building exercise after seeing how successful it could be first hand.

Cerian said: "We had two parties made up of about 30 to 40 people, which was great for us, so we just thought why don't we do our own?"

Now the pair organise treasure hunts tailored to individual requirements at a price of £10 per person.

The hunts involve getting those taking part to follow a map with different clues to 'drink markers' and points of interest within the village.

After the drink markers have been found, the treasure can be collected and everyone heads back to the pub for complimentary dinner and a drink.

So far various groups have taken up the offer including children's parties, the Swindon Rotary Club and staff from a nearby college.

Cerian, who has been at the pub for five years, added: "It's something different and I think people are interested in it.

"From a business point of view it doesn't cost us too much and we're not exerting any money on new staff members or anything."

And following maps to buried treasure isn't all the Sun Inn offers to customers. Other ideas they have implemented to boost trade include summer and winter balls, "Pizza & Pasta nights" and a weekly quiz.