THE Ploughboy Pub at Saltash allegedly started life as cottages and has been gradually extended as a pub over the years. Currently owned by Ben and Sheila Lennox-Boyd The Ploughboy has been managed by Tim and Jan Clayton since February.

Tim said: 'We do try to cater for all tastes which is very hard to do but I think we're managing it.'

Tim was born into the pub trade in the London area and commented: 'I have never known a pub this busy that has no trouble.'

The pub hosts four darts teams, the super league team is currently in second position and the three other teams are 'Strong teams' Tim says, 'They hold up the league!' A ladies euchre team has just been formed and a widescreen TV is used for all matches and other top sporting events.

Popular meals

The meals are particularly popular at The Ploughboy and on an average week they can sell over 1,500 meals. The pub has a team of chefs to cope with the vast numbers of meals required each day. Catering manager is Mick Nowell and the remainder of the team comprise his son, John, and Kevin Nightingale.

Mick has lived at Saltash for seven years and has worked at the pub for three years after leaving the Royal Navy, where he worked as a chef for 25 years. Kevin also worked in the Royal Navy as a chef for 25 years and has lived in the town for 15 years, he has worked at the pub for one year.

The Ploughboy is a holder of the Caradon Food Hygiene Award 1999 and are due for another review next week - as far as Mick knows they are the only pub in the area to have this award. Mick said: 'It's a very difficult award to get, we have to write a report and have an inspector around. We are very proud that we have this.'

Both Mick and Kevin are Intermediate Hygiene Certificate holders, Mick's son, John has trained as a chef at college and is a Basic Hygiene Certificate holder.

Mick explained: 'We use fresh produce which is mostly local. The meat is from Plympton and 80 per cent of the products are homemade. We try to cover everyone's needs, from vegetarian to children's and OAPS' menus. If anyone has a special request we do all we can to cater for them.'

The Ploughboy employes 19 staff in total including waitress, Jean McHale from St Budeaux who is the main waitress and has worked for Sheila for over 10 years. Barman Daniel Green has been working there for almost a year during lunchtimes and evenings. He commented: 'We get an awful lot of regulars from Saltash in.'

One of the regulars is Keith Wellbeloved who has 'been here quite a lot for the past 24 years'. Keith lives in Saltash and said: 'I've seen landlords come and I've seen them go but Tim and Jan are great. The chefs are magnificent but I don't just come here for the food, I like coming here period. Jan and Tim have an empathy for their customers. They are very confidential and anything you tell them doesn't go around the pub.'

He continued: 'A month ago I lost my wife and Jan and Tim have been so good to me. It's a good place to come and all the staff are brilliant.'

Other frequent visitors are Richard and Marian Spry from Plymstock who come to the pub for Sunday lunch regularly with Marian's daughter Julie, her husband Adrian Neale and their three-year-old daughter Lauren.

Marian said: 'The meals are exceptional value for money and they taste lovely with all fresh vegetables. We come here on all special occasions and regularly on Sundays. Julie and her family come here more often than we do because they only live a couple of streets away. We really love it here, as do a lot of people. It's never any good just popping in, you have to book.'

Great atmosphere

Postmen Rob and Jeff agree that there is a great atmosphere at the pub and good food. Jeff said: 'It's definitely a bargain, you come for a meal and get an awful lot.' Rob commented: 'At weekends the place is packed, if you're not here for 8pm there's no point because you just can't get in.'

Jeff continued: 'A really nice mix of people come here, everyone gets on well and it really does cater for everyone.'

William Giles and his daughter Susan treat themselves to a meal at the pub once a week when Susan visits her father in Saltash. Susan explained: 'They are very friendly here and the food's always good. We tend to try something different each week and I think we've been right the way through the menu now. For reasonable prices you get quite a lot.'

Les Barnes and Jeff Williams were in the pub having a drink. Les, from Saltash has been using The Ploughboy since 1986. He said: 'In that time the place has doubled in size, the food is now brilliant and the mine hosts are excellent, very approachable.'

Jeff Williams from Plymstock has been coming to the pub for about six months and thinks that it is brilliant.

'My wife, Tina and I are hoping to come here for a meal soon,' Jeff said: 'Jan and Tim welcome everybody who comes here, I have absolutely nothing bad to say about them or the pub.'

The Ploughboy has been Geoff Alford's local since 1956. Geoff works for Prosper and volunteered information about the pub dating back to the late 50s.

He said: 'The pub was originally two of the row of cottages knocked together, the bar went along the wall facing the road and ended about halfway into what is now the games room. The first extension was in the late 50s and extended the pub back, away from the road, up to where the dining area starts now. At that time they bought in music and a stage for live bands for the first time. In the late 60s, early 70s the dining room was built.'

The pub hosts live bands and singers, including Katie Thomas from Callington who sings at the pub every six weeks.

'The pub is as good as it has ever been during the years I've lived here,' Geoff said: 'I now consider this the best pub in the town.'

The Ploughboy is undergoing extensive refurbishments next year which will result in the the kitchen doubling in size and another extension to include a conservatory to be used as a childrens play area in wet weather.