THE Rod and Line pub at Tideford has been run by landlord and lady, Mike Jones and Karen Rafferty, for almost six years, under a lease with Inspired Pubs, previously Ushers.

Karen was brought up in the pub industry at Sconner Inn, Polbathic. Mike has lived in the village for almost 20 years and ran a business of outside location catering, he travelled to many music festivals and other occasions all over Britain and Europe. Karen has now taken over the business.

Mike and Karen worked together for almost 14 years before they became partners seven years ago. They have one daughter, four-year-old Beulah.

The Rod and Line is the first pub that they have taken on and they agreed: 'It's going OK.'

Originally farm cottages they were changed to a pub about 90 years ago.

Pub dog

As you walk up the first steps you are most likely to be greeted by the sight of Ben, the pub dog, sat on the flat roof by the door to the bar. Ben's mum, Dana, is a retired pub dog.

The pub is venue to many occasions, including St Pirans Day celebrations where they introduced a pasty competition. The first year it was held Karen won it with her second ever attempt of making a pasty.

A carol service is held at the pub during the festive season, as are many Christmas parties and a harvest festival has been held at the pub every year for over 21 years.

The Harvest festival was originally started by Anne Clook, wife of the landlord at the time, Tony Clook. Rev Kevin Grant, also known as 'Kev the Rev', has been doing the Harvest Festival service at the pub since it started and is involved with various charities.

Karen commented: 'Kev the Rev' has even been known to get behind the bar and pull a few pints in his frock when we are really busy!'

Another popular feature during the Harvest Festival at the pub is the auction they hold with anything offered, from a day's fly fishing tuition at Bake fishing lakes to baby sitting. Karen commented: 'We've even had homemade pasties that have been sold for £10 plus!'

Kivells Estate Agents and Auctioneers from Liskeard are the auctioneers for the event and try their hardest to raise the most money for various items as it all goes to charity.

The Rod and Line raise a lot of money for Children's Hospice South West and Looe Lifeboat and other charities through various events and they present them with cheques for the money they have raised each year.

The pub has also hosted various evenings including 60's night, summer barbecue nights, Rocky Horror Show Night, St Patrick's Night and music nights which are held fairly regularly with various bands and solo artists.

The pub has a skittle table which was made in Northampton and Mike believes it to be the only one in Cornwall. The darts and euchre teams play in the Saltash league. Mike explained: 'With our teams we put fun before fame!'

A member of the darts and euchre team is Dave Wray, who came to the pub with his wife, Tracey, and their four year old son, Jack. They live an ideal distance from the pub - next door!

The Wray family have lived in the area for eight years. Dave, who has been in the Navy for 17 years, said: 'This is a really nice village pub. You can sit outside and let the kids go across to the play area where you can watch them.'

Tracey commented: 'When Dave's away I still feel very comfortable coming in here on my own. We all know each other and everyone has a laugh.'

Mandy Baldry has worked at the pub since April and lives in the village. She said: 'I help out here, cleaning, cooking and behind the bar, I spend most of my time here, I even come in on my days off!'

Karen's mum, Elsie Rafferty, helps at the pub as does Elaine May from Saltash. Elaine's husband, Steve, is also a member of the euchre team.

Elaine said: 'We come here from Saltash but we don't mind coming this far because it's a very nice pub. There's a nice family atmosphere here.'

The Rod and Line runs a tasty menu, including fresh fish dishes, steak baguettes and traditional pub fair. Their biggest food speciality is fresh crab which is very popular.

Brilliant

Andy Hodge, a builder from Plymouth is currently refurbishing the toilets at the pub. He said: 'I live in Plymouth but I have worked in the village area since 1989. The pub is brilliant, they're all nice people and I come down to the pub evenings and weekends occasionally.'

Mike has a story about the open fire in the bar. Before he was landlord he came into the pub, warming his feet by the fire, looked at his boots, decided they were falling apart too much and promptly threw them in the fire. The steel toe caps are still on the mantelpiece in the bar!

Karen is a member of the Tideford 2000 Committee and they sponsored, with G Haddy and Son, the fireworks for the New Year's Eve celebrations 1999-2000.

Karen explained how just about everyone from the village gathers at the pub for any special occasions, including the local YFC. They have a 'Tuesday night club' which comprises the old school members of the village. She said: 'We get everyone in here from suits to wellie boots.'

David Hughes, a retired professor and his wife Darryl, live in Portwrinkle but travels to The Rod and Line as Daniel thinks 'it's the best pub around.'

The couple had just returned from a holiday in Tenerife, David said: 'We like old country pubs like this, there are different crowds in at different times of the day. Everyone comes here from entrepreneurs to farmers and bin men, but we all get on well. The menu is good, you know you'll always get good fresh food, good company and good beer.'

Darryl was the winner of the pasty competition last year, and as with Karen, it was her first few attempts at making a pasty.

Another regular at the pub is Parish Councillor Tim May, who is also on the euchre team.

Karen commented: 'We try to promote the pub's good atmosphere, it's always been here. The pub is very much community minded and we welcome everyone.'