THE battle to lay claim to the title of the oldest pub in Britain is putting Ye Olde Man and Scythe firmly on the map.

Landlord of the historic Churchgate pub John Jewitt, has been welcoming a steady stream of curious visitors to the premises -- while his public assertion is still being disputed by the pub that currently holds the title.

And while the Guinness Book of Records states that the Fighting Cocks in St Albans, Hertfordshire, is the rightful claimant, its interpretation of the facts relating to the title are something Mr Jewitt still vehemently disputes.

He said: "They've got it wrong and they know it. While the St Albans pub, claiming to be circa 11th century, may be a very old building, my contention is that it became an inn some 200 or more years after The Old Man and Scythe.

"The compilers of the book should define how they have come to the conclusion that the Southern pub is the oldest and, until they do that, I'll argue that we up here in Bolton have the right to use the title."

To research his claim, he has made visits to Stamford, Nottingham and to St Albans to weigh up the opposition's challenge. He said: "While it is undeniably very old, I maintain we have the edge," he explained. "I believe all of the evidence is in the public domain -- it just needs someone with a dispassionate view to judge who has the strongest claim.

"I have been inundated with visitors keen to hear historic tales associated with our pub, events that include: the Massacre of Bolton in 1644, when, during the English Revolution, hundreds of people were killed in bloody fighting; and the beheading of the seventh Earl of Derby in 1651.

"Officially, the Fighting Cocks is still recognised as the oldest pub, but, it only moved to its present location -- a former pigeon coop -- in 1485, whereas The Man and Scythe was here in 1251."

John has been in charge at the pub since 1996, and is currently preparing evidence to substantiate his claim, before presenting it to the relevant authorities, including the Guinness Book of Records.

HISTORIC: The Old Man and Scythe

"If it can be proved that we are the second, third or even 10th oldest pub in the land, I won't mind as long as the title goes to the pub that most deserves it."