A LONG-STANDING joke between two colleagues has resulted in a dream come true when they open The Castle Inn, Newport, next Tuesday.

Liam White, 28, and Simon Cant, 30, have grown up working in the pub trade since they were in their early teens.

They got together professionally when Liam was manager of The Yachtsman, Cowes, and Simon came on board as his assistant.

Liam explained: "We had a long running joke that, one day, we would own our own pub and eventually we decided, why not go for it?

"I'm excited but nervous at the same time."

Simon added: "I had a five-year plan at 27 that I would have my own pub and it has happened two years early.

"This pub came on the market and we grabbed it with both hands."

Liam grew up in Newport and went to Carisbrooke High School.

He started work with the Character Inn chain at The Bugle, Yarmouth, aged 15 as a waiter and trainee chef.

Over the years he has managed various of their pubs including the Yachtsman; Bugle, Brading; Crown Inn, Shorwell and Crab and Lobster, Bembridge as well as being assistant manager in Yarmouth and covering manager at The Sun Inn, Hulverstone.

For a year he was also head chef at The Waterside, Cowes.

He is dating Kristine, the sister of Simon's wife, Louise.

Simon and Louise met while working in the pub trade and now have three sons Dean, five, Fletcher, two, and Elliott, one.

Simon, whose family moved from Manchester to the Isle of Wight when he was three, went to college Medina High and, aged 13, attended college to do a catering and hospitality course.

He originally wanted to be a chef and got the taste for the industry at Calverts Hotel, Newport, working at a variety of pubs including the Eight Bells, Carisbrooke; Crown Inn, Shorwell; Sun Inn, Hulverstone and Yachtsman.

The pub, which is currently closed for essential electrical work, will have an official opening night on Friday, November 23, with a 25 per cent discount on first drink and food with a copy of this article. Food will be served between 5pm and 8pm on that evening and there will be live entertainment.

The Castle is the oldest pub in the town.

The earliest record of it opening was 1555 and King Charles I was said to drink there under armed guard while he was held captive at Carisbrooke Castle.