The quirky village pub near Bristol linked with Banksy that sells bottles of champagne for £55

A village pub less than an hour’s drive from Bristol which sells £55 bottles of champaigne has seen an influx of custom after Banksy reportedly purchased it.

People living in Pilton, near Glastonbury, have said the graffiti artist is part of a group that has invested money into The Crown pub, which feature stuffed squirrels as decor.

Allthough the person who runs it, Owain Powell, denies Banksy is involved, people living in the village say its never been busier since reopening in November.

The kookily-decorated pub — which has no Banksy artwork on display — features hanging plants, a pub garden and stuffed squirrel in a glass case playing pool.

It boasts an upmarket menu where punters are charged £18 for beef roast dinner, £16 for a beef burger and chips and £15 for haddock and chips. A sauce dip comes in at £3 while extra chips are £4.

A pint can cost between £4.40 for Pravha and £5.60 for a hipster American Pale Ale brewed in Bristol, while cocktails are £9 a pop and it is £18.95 for the cheapest bottle of wine, a Pinot Grigio.

Those looking to splash the cash can splurge £55 on a bottle of Domaine Sarcey champagne, and the bar snack offering includes homemade fennel pork scratchings for £4.

Pat Sumner, 40, has lived in Pilton since 1985 and works as a porter at the pub. Pressed on the reports of Banksy’s involvement, Mr Sumner simply said: “Pilton is full of rumours.

“I’ve lived here since 1985 and I can tell you that you hear so much different stuff.”

Another local, who asked not to be named, said there were rumours that Banksy owned a house nearby. He said: “I have heard Banksy has a house in the area but I don’t know anything else on that.”

A retired woman who has lived in Pilton since the 1990s said Michael Eavis had invested a lot of money in the area and the pub was much more friendly than before.

She said: “I’ve been in there a couple of times and it’s nice and friendly. It used to be much more unfriendly, with two people stood at the bar who would turn around and stare at you when you walked in.

“But the first time we went in there after it re-opened it was heaving with locals. I would say it’s reasonably priced. It’s not a cheap pub - you wouldn’t go there for egg and chips because that isn’t what they are doing.