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A Teesside pub says it’s the first on Teesside to start taking bitcoins.

Punters at the Tap and Spile in Guisborough will soon be able to pay for their pints using the digital currency - and its landlord says it's partly because they DON’T take card payments.

Phil Barkley is a big bitcoin fan, having traded in the crypto-currency for months.

He said: “It’s fantastic, the future of money - people say it’s the currency version of the internet.

“People didn’t have the internet on their phones 20 years ago, now our phones are the first thing we check in the morning when we wake up.

“The way the world is changing, you can pay for something across the world in seconds using Bitcoin without relying on banks or third parties to get involved.

(Image: Evening Gazette)

“People are thinking ‘it’s ok having bitcoin, but what can you spend it on?’

“Well you can come into the Tap and spend it.

“We don’t have a debit card machine, it’s not financially viable because we don’t do food.

“But customers can buy bitcoins at the bar, the transaction comes through in seconds.

“I’ve been buying bitcoins for months, most people just trade them, being able to spend it is the next big thing.

“Not everyone wants to take £200 out on a night out, your smartphone is fingerprint ID so it’s a security thing.

“There will only ever be 21m bitcoins; they’ll become more scarce and inherently, the value should keep going up.”

Bitcoin was the first of what have become known as “cryptocurencies” - forms of digital money that use encryption to secure transactions and control the creation of new units.

They are unlike coins in your purse but essentially a line of numbered “code” - instructions used in computer programming.

However, once purchased they can be exchanged for some goods and services, like normal money.

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The pub will also take another crypto-currency - Litecoin.

“I think we are the first to do it,” adds Phil, “certainly on Teesside - in London, they even have bitcoin ATM machines.”

Phil is even planning on holding a talk at the pub, explaining how people can use them. If the punters like it, bitcoin use will be rolled out to other Teesside venues in the same pub group including The Fountain at Ormesby and The Miners Arms at Eston.

You’ll be able to get a round in at the Tap and Spile using bitcoin from February 14.

To register an interest in using the currency at the pub, email thetapcrypto@gmail.com