THE Rodney Inn at Saltash is not your typical town pub. Set just off New Road it's exterior has the appearance of a social club but the interior looks and feels like a lively, friendly pub, which it is.
The Rodney was originally called The Coronation, and was built 32 years ago.
The Pub was re-named The Rodney in 1968, possible after HMS Rodney, which was built in 1922, and launched in 1925 took part in the Second World War and in battles off the coast of Norway, being based out of Devonport.
Some think the pub was named after Admiral Rodney, who saved Jamaica from the Spanish. The hanging sign outside the pub has a picture of him.
The Rodney's current landlord and lady are Ken and Donna Miller who have leased it from Punch Taverns for six years. They have two children, Sam, aged seven and four-year-old Harry.
Atmosphere
The atmosphere is one of an encouraging sporting theme, regulars at the pub make up the pool, darts and euchre teams, The Rodney also sponsor a five-a-side football team, again, made up of the regular visitors to the pub.
Donna's brother, Peter Strassheimer is the manager of The Rodney and has been since Ken and Donna took over the lease. He said: 'It's very family orientated management.' Peter is a member of the pool and euchre teams. He commented: 'I play on the darts team if they need me.'
The longest serving member of staff is Hilary 'Mum' Baker, who has worked at the pub for 22 years. She said: 'I've stayed here because I like the job and the pub. My son is a regular in here. Donna and Ken are nice to work for, they're a really lovely couple.'
Dave, Hilary's husband, was in The Rodney when The Cornish Times visited. He said: 'It's my local, everyone in here is game for a laugh. If you can't have a wind up with your mates down the pub it's a bad job.'
Dave is also in the 'A' pool team, who hold up the rest of their division!
Donna said: 'We don't get any passing trade because of the bypass. The Rodney is a local's pub and we survive on locals' trade.'
Donna's mum, Joan Howes, otherwise known to all the regulars as 'mother' visits the pub occasionally. She said: 'I think The Rodney is very good, very friendly. We always have good fun here. I pop in for a drink occasionally or I bring my friends here for lunch.'
Regular
Sub-mariner Calvin Hendry, or 'H' as he's known, is a regular at the Rodney. He said: 'I've been coming here for the last seven years since I've lived here. We all get on great with Donna and Ken, I even bumped into them when on holiday in the Algarve. We actually stayed in the same hotel!'
'H' will have been in the Navy for 13 years in October and is currently serving on HMS Talent.
Glen Foley, another sub-mariner has a nick-name of 'Axle'. He has lived in Saltash for 24 years and has used The Rodney as his local for the past six years. He commented: 'When I'm at a loose end I usually pop in. It's very much a local's local and there's a really homely atmosphere and it's friendly. When holiday makers come in everyone chips into the conversation and has a really good time.'
Roger Hewitt, 'The nutter of the pub' - Dave Baker is quoted as saying - thinks that The Rodney is 'really friendly.'
Roger said: 'I pop in after work and on Saturday evenings. I only live up the road so it's not too far to stumble home! I do come down to play pool regularly.'
Landlady Donna is a chef by trade so cooks most of the meals, her brother and manager Peter also chips in and helps with the cooking when it's busy.
Charities
A visitor to The Rodney was Darren Newcombe from Plymouth. He plays for the five-a-side football team and likes the pub.
Peter 'Smudge' Smith now lives in Plymouth. He said: 'I still come across to The Rodney at weekends to see the lads and see how everyone's getting on. I used to work with 'H' and 'Axle' in the Navy and Axle and I used to house share so I'm responsible for introducing him here!'
The Rodney is the venue for various charity events, Donna, Roger Hewitt and Lee Hockley had their heads shaved to raise funds for Leukaemia research recently and many other events had been held, including a bungee jump, pool and dart marathons and there is an ongoing bid to raise money for Saltash Fire Brigade for cutting equipment. The collection box is a novelty, being a fire extinguisher. Someone joked: 'The only problem they've got is they've got no way of getting to the money without the cutting equipment!'
There is also a function room which is styled in a complete contrast to the typical town pub bar area and enjoys panoramic views of part of the town and the Tamar Valley.
The Rodney is the locals' pub but anyone is welcome and there is always someone to chat and joke with. It is run by a family and the regulars at the pub make it a friendly, community pub.
If you know the answer to why the pub changed it's name to The Rodney please contact us, by letter or telephone at the office.Rodney Caps July 21