THE owners of a village pub are encouraging thirsty punters to barter for their beverages.

The Draycott Arms, in Draycott, will now accept a sack of potatoes in return for two pints of beer or an hour's gardening in exchange for a scotch on the rocks.

Licensee Andy Glasspool and his partner Steph Whiston believe the new "currency" will ensure the pub can survive in tough economic times.

The couple moved from Hampshire to the Staffordshire Moorlands in the late 1990s and took over their local 14 months ago.

Steph, aged 48, said: "It is a semi-rural area and this is how people work around here. They swap a job for a job and everyone does it.

"I thought it would be a good idea to adapt it into the pub."

Regulars at the Cheadle Road pub have already embraced the idea of swapping their wares for their drink of choice. Sparkies, plumbers and handymen have also worked for free in return for a slap-up meal.

Steph added: "I bartered earlier on with a customer. He had some bedding plants and I am doing my garden at the moment, so I asked him how many pints he wanted as an exchange.

"It has to be something of equal value to make it benefit both of us really. I recently swapped a £5 sack of potatoes for two pints, which adds up to £5.40. It worked out cheaper for me and a bargain for them."

Steph also recently struck a deal with a punter to tend to her garden.

She added: "I am quite busy with the pub, and when a man came in, we got talking. I told him I could not afford to pay him, but I would supply him with ale if he could do my gardening. It is a lot of fun."

Items which have been used for haggling include vegetables, gardening items and plants – and even a new window pane.

Steph said: "I love bartering, it's a lot more interesting than dealing with money. In these hard times everybody benefits, and it brings the locals together.

"It is a fun way of earning a living. It's a win-win situation."

Andy, aged 46, insisted bartering was not unique to his pub.

He added: "It's part and parcel of pub trade.

"I am sure there will be a few boozers who do something like this. It is very enjoyable.

"There are a lot of jobs that need doing around here and this is a great way to get them done quickly."

When the pair took over the pub it was run-down but they have transformed it into a thriving watering hole.