SET just off the road from Liskeard to Bodmin, through the picturesque Glynn Valley there is a welcome sight for any weary traveller or hungry family. The Halfway House, with its cream paint and green shutters, excludes an olde worlde charm and friendly atmosphere.

Owned by Steve Cousins and his ex-wife and business partner Ceri for four and a half years, refurbishment has recently been completed after a fire at the pub in May last year.

The name, The Halfway House, may originate through it being halfway between Liskeard and Bodmin, or perhaps Plymouth and Truro and it possibly may have been built on the site of an old coaching inn.

It was owned for about 55 years by the Crinks family and was run by Hugh Crinks.

The pub uses three cask ales - Sharps Doom Bar Bitter from Rock, Dartmoor Best Bitter and Wadworths - and a selection of standard kegs.

Homemade food

The Halfway House has a ladies' darts team, and had two pool teams before the fire and there is interest to start them up again. One pool team is guaranteed, thanks to Warleggan Young Farmers Club who frequent the pub as often as possible and are usually found in the 'Pigs' bar, on the right of the main entrance.

The Halfway House is a food destination pub where much of the food, bar meals and restaurant food, is homemade. Steve buys as much locally as possible, including ostrich, wild boar (Kernow wild boar, raised on Bodmin moor) and fresh fish from Looe harbour as the boats come in.

There is a large choice of vegetarian meals available with up to ten or 12 choices a day and all specials boards are changed each day.

Steve said: 'I believe greatly in supporting local businesses. I support them and they support me.'

The pubs waiter Alex Blight, from Bodmin, has been working at the Halfway House since March 29, when it opened again after the refurbishment. He said: 'I wanted to work as a waiter again and the Halfway House is really nice. I'm always kept busy.'

'Teddy Bear' bar

Steve explained that the Halfway House is usually busier during the day than in the evenings but the new a la carte menu which has been introduced is working well.

Photos of the pub through the years adorn the walls in the bar on the left, formerly known as the 'Teddy Bear' bar. Purely by chance the photos were rescued from the fire last year.

Steve took them down so they could be identically reframed and left them on a chair at the opposite end of the bar where the fire did not reach. The photos are from 1906, 1926, 1946, 1966 and 1996.

Paula Jackson has worked at the Halfway House for nine years and calls herself 'part of the fixtures and fittings'. She said: 'The place is fab. It's smashing working here.'

Geoff Nicholls from Penzance was on his way to Liskeard and sees the Halfway House as quite literally a halfway house. He said: 'I have been here before. They do very good food. It's nice and relaxed and friendly.'

Others eating their lunch before considering travelling onto Lanhydrock House were Derek Brooks from Southampton and Tom and Margaret Pillman from Bude.

Tom said: 'We have stopped here several times before, the food is very, very good.'

Derek agreed with him and said: 'It's a convenient stop. We have known the place for a number of years - 25 in all.'

On their table was a very colourful table number holder. A small plant pot with with the table number painted on and fake, bright yellow flowers sprouting from it. Steve explained: 'We wanted something that was a bit different to the everyday table number holders. We saw these and moderated them.'

Good atmosphere

Paula joked: 'The only things is, we have a problem getting men to carry them back to their tables!'

Not all customers at the pub are holidaying - Graham O'Brian has been a regular at The Halfway House for just over two years.

Self employed Graham, who completes electrical safety checks for the county council, said: 'This is the area that I work. I sometimes pop in for a drink after work or for lunch. It's very friendly with a good atmosphere.'

Steve explained how they get very positive comments about the quality and quantity of tea and coffee which they sell a lot of. Due to people driving this is provided in the extra large 'value for money' cups.

Bed and breakfast

The pub has two beer gardens, a patio to the side of the pub and a lawned area by the river. Stopping off for a bite to eat after shopping at Trago Mills were Simon Hocking, Kieren Punch and Jan Cobley from Newquay. They all agreed that the pub is 'very nice' and have visited it before.

Old timer Max, the 13-year-old Doberman, is the pub dog and is usually found lying flat out in the car park. Steve said: 'He sees himself as the landlord!'

Bed and breakfast is available at the pub. Well behaved children and dogs are welcome, no dogs are allowed in the restaurant and there is lots of car parking space with disabled access.

Flanked by colourful flowering shrubs, trees and fields Steve and Ceri, who have over 30 years experience in the hospitality business, are very proud of The Halfway House.