Chris Maclean: Most of the time I enjoy our student trade...

Its Thursday night and I've just closed my pub. It's gone eleven, we've stopped serving and I'm throwing out the last of them. There are about a dozen noisy student types outside the pub making a bit of a racket. But tonight I'm letting them. Tonight I'm making an exception.

Ordinarily I would be outside keeping them quiet. This pub has a bitter history of upsetting the neighbours and I've no wish to re-light that conflict. In the past I've used persuasion, water and even stink bombs to disperse people. Apart from the neighbours I have hotel residents who I don't want disturbed. This is an area where there can be few compromises.

But tonight I'm cutting them a little slack. Tonight is their last night. This week they go off to university.

Most of the time I enjoy our student trade. We have no colleges here in the town. The students study elsewhere but their family homes are here. So it is during holidays that we really see them when they re-convene with their friends, share tales, drink beer and enjoy themselves. They tend to be a little noisy and messy. No one can shred bar mats more annoyingly than students. But, mostly, they are polite and cheerful.

Here we have no music. No shots. No alcopops. No fruit machines. I cannot imagine why they should choose to drink in here when there are plenty of other places that would appear to suit them better. But they do. We have some good people who never cause trouble. And they like to drink here.

I am sure many pubs do well from the student economy. Our local city, Canterbury, is awash with students and many pubs go considerably out of their way to attract students. Loud music, entertainment, late licences, drink offers, promotions and all sorts seek to gather their share of those student loans. It isn't what I'd wish to do.

Here in their home town it is a delight when they return and assemble in the natural place for such an group ~ the local pub. These people are not only good customers but, for many licencees, a bountiful source of part-time staff. More than half my staff are students; young, fit and enthusiastic. Some study locally. Others return in the holiday. I've a lot of good feelings about students. There is a drive and vitality about them that I enjoy being near.

But tonight it is the turn of the departing students to say farewell to each other. They've had a great evening. Its been noisy but uncomplicated. I'll be sad to see this bunch go. I wish them luck in their college experiences.

So I'll let them be a little noisy in their farewells tonight. It seems only fair. They've been a good crowd.

So if you run a pub in Pontypridd please keep an eye out for Sid. He's bald (he's got alopecia), noisy and loads of fun. I wouldn't want him hurt. Enjoy his company. Please look after him and let me have him back in December. Thank you.