A MICRO pub is so good its owners say they are losing regulars who are inspired to become owners themselves rather than customers.

The Watchmakers Arms in Goldstone Villas, Hove, has been shortlisted for The Argus’s Pub of the Year competition, making it one step closer to being crowned the county’s best.

Ali and Dave White opened the Watchmakers with their friends Ruth and Rich Evans in May 2015.

The Whites had never worked in the trade before but their spontaneous idea has become a huge success, so much that some customers are leaving to set up their own micro pubs.

Ali said: “Some of our regulars have left because they were so inspired by our set up they wanted to go and set up their own mini pubs elsewhere.

“We have lost some good regulars to micro-pubs in Worthing and Portslade.”

The Watchmakers Arms, originally a watchmakers business dating back to 1889, is home to a micro brewery and sells some of the UK’s best ales.

The bar is decorated with the original shop wallpaper which has been preserved since the Victorian times.

Ali said: “We sell our own home made beers which are brewed on site, which I think customers like.

“But we also listen to what the chat is in the pub and keep an ear out for the favourite ales on the scene and order them in.

“We really like to buy in craft ales from smaller, independent bussinesses rather than the large mass produced beers.”

The four friends put their heads together with other micro pub owners in the area and set up their own Southern R’Ale plan which lists their favourite places to taste ales along the coast in Sussex.

Ali said it is not only a decent place to drink but also to meet other people.

Because the pub is very small scale, she said it was a good place to get to know others really well and make friends in the area.

She said: “We don’t have screens or game machines.

“We are just one room with some high tables which makes it a really good place for beer and banter.

“Everyone talks to each other in the pub and it’s so easy to make friends with everyone.

“A lot of people who come in compare the pub to a friend’s front room.”

The Watchmakers Arms is home to well-known and much-loved Muffin, the in-house cockerpoo who loves to greet all humans

and dogs that come through the doors.

Ali said: “We are dog friendly and Muffin is known for being pleased to see everyone.

“We make sure to have dog treats behind the bar for any furry friends that might venture in.”

If you think the Watchmakers Arms deserves to win The Argus’s Pub of the Year competition you can vote for them on page 32 of todays paper.

The last chance enter your vote is Wednesday, October 31.