THE Snooty Fox pub at Morval is a free house owned by licensee Steve Wright and his wife June, originally from Coventry. They have been at the Snooty Fox for two years, almost to the day.

It is a popular haunt for the locals who enjoy the atmosphere of the pub most evenings.

The pub, formerly a farmhouse, was started by Arthur Hough, who would invite local farmers around for a drink after the harvest. The gatherings got bigger so Arthur got a license and the Rostherne County Club was born.

In the late 1970s the landlord Derek Mutton completed an amount of building work and extended the building further, virtually doubling the size of the place and changed the name to The Snooty Fox although the reasons are unclear. He also built a bar in the shape of a 'M', for Mutton. Steve now jokes that: 'It was just waiting for us to come along, from the customer's side of the bar it is actually the shape of a 'W', for Wright!'

The main bar is decorated with prints of racing cars, Steve's passion, and different pump clips from various ales that have been sold at the pub over the past three years. Steve said: 'We only ever sell beers and ales with names that you could show to your mother!'

Real Ales

The real ales being sold at the moment are Doom Bar Bitter from Sharps and Cornish Knockers from Skinners, there are also guest ales sold which are changed every two to three weeks. The Snooty Fox is hosting an indoor beer festival on September 30 and October 1 with a craft fair. Skinners are supplying 15 real ales, various craft stalls are being finalised and a steam engine and bouncy castle will also be present.

There are three full time members of staff at The Snooty Fox, Steve Wright, chef, Alan Collings from Widegates and his mother Carol Collings who works on front of house.

Steve is an accountant by profession and he and June decided to get into the pub trade for a change of pace.

Alan Collings, the busy chef at The Snooty Fox cooks all meals to order. He worked there for 12 months last year, left for a break for four months and came back. He has now been at the pub again for almost a year. He said: 'It has been quite a good summer, steady trade.' He explained how the specials board is decided jointly between him and Steve and how they organise the best deals. Steve also takes over in the kitchen when Alan has a day off. All the ingredients used are bought locally as possible from farmers shops, butchers and Looe or Sutton harbour in Plymouth.

Relaxing

Carol, Alan's mother has been worked at the pub for almost two years. She said: 'I do a bit of everything, front of house, restuarant and the bar.' There are, fortunately, limited disagreements between mother and son.

In the pub when The Cornish Times visited was regular Dave Stephens from Nomansland with his six-year-old nephew, Jake, his sister Bridget's son.

Dave said: 'It's a relaxing pub, somewhere you can bring the kids. Jake encourages me here. Steve and June are brilliant, really easy going.'

Jake commented: 'Yes, I really like it here.' Dave laughed: 'Only because of the bouncy castle!'

The bouncy castle on the front garden is a summer attraction for the children visiting the pub and is always popular.

Just finishing their meal, which they chose from the selection of lunchtime sandwiches and baguettes, were Tracey Chudleigh and her daughter Morwenna who live about 200 yards down the road and pop up to the pub quite regularly.

Tracey said: 'I love the pub, its absolutely brilliant. The New Years Eve party this year was great. Steve and June are so friendly and always make you feel welcome and the food is good. It's always worthwhile coming in. It's a nice friendly pub.'

Morwenna said: 'I think it's really, really good. I like the bouncy castle and the food's excellent.'

Regulars on a Tuesday evening are the Morval handbell ringers who pop in for a drink after practise.

Having lunch at the pub were Terry and Phillipa Grundy from Somerset, with Terry's aunt, Marjory Burns from Looe. Terry was born in Looe and moved up to Somerset but he and Phillipa come down to visit four or five times a year, and when ever they're down they always pop in to The Snooty Fox.

Terry said: 'We have been through three owners, that's how long we have known the place. Steve always knows what drinks we have because whenever we're in Cornwall we come here.'

Phillipa commented: 'We left London at 6.30am and made it down here for lunch, it was the thought of their lunches that got us here!'

The large restaurant can seat up to 85 and can take a buffet for about 100 and boasts superb views over the countryside. It is advisable to book for the Sunday carvery which is very popular.

The Snooty Fox is the home of The Looe Valley Rotary Club who meet for dinner here every Monday. 'Seekers', a singles club also meets every month in the function room, which also doubles up as a skittles room. The skittles team meet on Thursday nights and the skittle alley is available for functions and parties.

The pub has eight letting rooms and this is the first year that they have been in the Looe and Polperro Guide, on the website - Cornwall Explore and in the AA accommodation book, with who they have a three diamond categorisation.

The Snooty Fox is a popular place for raising money for charity, all the profit from the New Year's Eve party went to charity, and many community events are held there. Steve said: 'We are a local pub and anything the local community requires we will try to help with. When we bought this place we didn't want it to become a hotel or a restaurant we wanted a proper local pub. Somewhere people can go for a decent pint, good food and a chat.'