He took the lease of the pub on in 1963 after being encouraged to take on the pub by his brother.
“We had one choice of beer, a pale ale, which we sold at 5p per a pint, whisky was 10p for a half measure, very few ladies frequented Scottish pubs and the pub served no food and had no entertainment,” said Houliston,
“It’s a good life and very entertaining, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ve loved meeting all the different customers and staff and if I was 25 I’d do it all again.”
The Hole in the Wa’ was built in 1620 and takes its unusual name from a small trap door in the pub’s wall. The door was an early off-sales facility allowing men and women to buy beer without stepping into the pub or leaving any horses unattended.