THE Church House Inn at Linkinhorne is not an easy place to find. Travelling down narrow lanes that appear to lead nowhere, it is a surprise to find a country inn with little parking to spare!

Jackie and Nigel Payne moved to Linkinhorne four years ago from Shropshire. As a civil engineer and planner, Nigel had had more than enough of bureaucracy and form filling and wanted a complete change.

They thought of moving to Yorkshire so it must have come as a surprise to find themselves in the wilds of Cornwall. They saw the premises at the end of May and moved in in mid-July.

The couple started in a small way with a little advertising, but most of the growth in trade has come about through word of mouth - the quality of the food being one major talking point.

The pub is a freehouse and stocks local real Cornish ales. There is an extensive bar menu and a restaurant where meals are served using locally grown vegetables and meats.

Nigel, who is the chef, prepares bi-monthly theme nights, for example, Chinese, Spanish, Mexican and Italian meals have all been featured. These are group nights with around 30 customers. Nigel also arranges quiz nights which are held to raise funds for local charities. The air ambulance has benefited by £1000 so far and the same amount was raised towards sending four Scouts to Chile for the World Scout Jamboree in 1998.

Another new venture has been the Tuesday skittle nights which are becoming increasingly popular. Around 50 people can be accommodated in a self-contained area. The pub has two skittles teams, one of which has gained promotion.

The euchre team plays in the Launceston league.

Christmas parties are already being booked and names taken for Christmas dinner.

Jackie, in addition to working behind the bar, and helping with serving meals, is a member of the Linkinhorne Church 'Psalmers', a group formed from the congregation of St Melor's Church.

Sunday is always a busy day for the car park, which takes cars from members of the congregation as well as visitors to the pub, though these are often the same.

Cheerful

One regular customer on a Sunday is Paul Terrett, who, with his wife Joan often finish their work in the church and cross the road for a pint and a coffee!

Paul is grateful for the background music, which is not invasive. He finds the staff always helpful and cheerful.

He said: "It is good to meet socially with those who I worship with."

Visiting on Sunday evening were Alan and Diana Horn, who, with Diana's mother are in the area for a week's holiday. They are staying at a holiday cottage at Plusha Bridge. They had just finished what they described as a "lovely meal". It was the start of their holiday and they found it was just what was needed.

Visiting the pub from Callington were Thelma and Geoffrey Wilson. The couple say that they often visit the pub because of the quality of the meals.

"It is always good value for money," they said. "If we want something special, we come here. It is very handy."

Andrew and Sarah Doney are regulars, as are the rest of their family. They enjoy the pleasant atmosphere, the company and the beer.

Jackie and Nigel are very supportive in the community and have become part of Linkinhorne. Sarah helps in the kitchen when things get busy, which often happens.

The staff helping at the pub are all locals. The bar staff consist of Jackie Payne, Marcia Ham and Sarah Kilby, whilst Emma Bartlett, Vicki Hayllar and Sarah Doney help Nigel in the kitchen.

Taking advantage of a Sunday meal being prepared for them was the Churchill family who live in nearby Rilla Mill. Jane and Mark find the atmosphere, food and beer more than satisfactory.

"A lovely little pub. Friendly and with excellent food," is how the Church House Inn is described by regulars Steve and Dawn Veal of Downgate, Stoke Climsland.

"We have been coming here since Jackie and Nigel arrived. The pub provides value for money and we have many friends who also frequent the place."

John Packer from Trevigro visits the pub for two reasons. One is for a pint and the other is when he meets monthly with fellow members of the South Hill Investment Club. The club meet in a room at the back where they are often joined by Nigel who is also a member.

John was wearing his customer's hat on Sunday when he took his wife Daphne, son Robert and his friend Laila out for a drink and evening meal.

Last to arrive during the visit was "Pop" Courtis. Pop lives in Maders.

Tunnel

He supplies local produce to the inn in the form of vegetables, fruit and the plants for the tubs that decorate the outside of the building. Pop worked for some years at Morwellham Quay. Prior to that he was one of the last to work at Luckett Mine and also at the Excelsior Tunnel which runs under Kit Hill. He was there when tests were being made on explosives prior to the nuclear blasts that heralded the end of World War II.

The inn opens every evening except Monday and during the lunch hours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.