THE Somerset Arms at the end of Victoria Street is described by landlord Paul Richards, 47 as "an out-and-out working man's pub."

But while offering the traditional cheap booze and pork scratchings it has a number of claims to fame, with a world champion having been defeated here and links with The Beatles.

Mr Richards said: "One of the major brewery chains did a series of exhibition matches with then world darts champion Phil Taylor touring its pubs and playing a leg of darts against regulars.

"While Taylor did start on 701 and his opponent on 301, Mario Tavarez did actually beat the world champion here at the Somerset Arms."

The link with The Beatles is in the form of local hero Bryn Yemm, who has been described as Britain's best-selling unknown singer, and in his earlier years sold 500,000 albums in five years with no help from the media.

"He was sort of the pop idol of the 1970s and became friends with The Beatles, probably through singing on the same bill as them somewhere.

"But the guy who used to own this place played in his band and Bryn would sometimes drink up here," he added.

The pub is run by Mr Richards and his business partner Amy Maynard, 24 who is originally from Australia, but her father lives in nearby Gilwern and she has been on Victoria Street for the last two years.

It has two big screens and the Rugby World Cup has been a major attraction recently. Luckily, Miss Maynard was on holiday in Corfu when Wales played Australia in the tournament, meaning she couldn't enjoy the bragging rights of her country's success.