A PUB landlord who was once the youngest in the country is celebrating a quarter of a century pulling pints at the same inn.

David Green took over the Bath House, in Walton’s Prince’s Esplanade, on March 21, 1990 – just ten days before the birth of his first son Jonathan.

“I was only 21,” said David. “I was the youngest freehold publican in England and Wales. I don’t think there has ever been a 21-year-old that has owned his own pub.

“We had a lot of luck back then and we’ve been riding that and making our own luck for the last 25 years.”

David is his family’s third generation of pub landlords.

Grandad Harry and dad Jack ran the Imperial in Clacton and later the Carlton. David was managing the Royal Marine, in Walton, when the Bath House came up for sale.

Times were tough in the early 1990s recession. Parent company King and Co folded and the Bath House went into administration.

The bank agreed to let David continue after he sat up until 2am drinking with the receivers.

He admitted the early days at the Bath House had been a rollercoaster ride. “I was 21, I had my first-born son ten days later and then it was Easter the following weekend,” he said.

“It was crazy. I was petrified and there I was stuck in a pub which wasn’t making any money.

“I can’t believe it has gone so quickly. It’s been a blast and I’ve enjoyed it immensely.

“But those 25 years wouldn’t be anything if it wasn’t for the thousands of customers who have walked through the Bath House door and the staff, who are like family. They’ve made the pub what it is.”