A WARM and welcoming bar in the winter, and a comfortable outside seat in an attractive, bustling street in the summer where a pint can be enjoyed whilst the world walks by, are on offer at Fowey's attractive Lugger Inn.

Landlord and lady Michael 'Reg' Tambling, and his wife Carol, have been at the Lugger for about eight years, previously running the Russell Inn, across the river at Polruan. After a year of moving into the Fowey pub, to become tenants for St Austell brewery, they completely renovated and redecorated the premises and made them more welcoming and relaxing. One factor which was not altered however, was the unusual compressed tin ceiling in the bar, which has been listed.

Apart from the bar, and a dining area, the inn also has three letting rooms - ideal for anyone wishing to stay in the heart of a Cornish town, close to a colourful, working river. The Lugger is ideally located in the middle of shops, and close to facilities such as the town hall and post office, but also only yards from the quay and the river frontage. Walkers, who have hiked around the coast from the Par area, or from much nearer St Catherine's Castle, or walked or ferried across from Bodinnick or Polruan, find it an ideal place at which to rest weary legs, have a drink, and recuperate.

Rare chat

Not only does the chance of a rare old chat, and a joke with Reg, draw regular customers, the food also has much to do with it. Good, mouth-watering and wholesome dishes are available from the enticing specials board at lunch-times and evenings, with wonderful home made pasties available on Tuesdays and traditional roasts on Sundays. Fowey's affiliation with the sea is evident in many of the dishes which can be enjoyed at the Lugger - such as local mussels, plaice, and cod and prawn pie - but all tastes are catered for by cook Kirsty Denholm, with vegetarian meals such as cauliflower cheese also available.

Reg and Carol are helped in the running of the inn by their daughter Lisa, aged 23, while 19-month-old Rosie, their son Lee's daughter, is always a welcome visitor as well.

The Lugger is mainly a local pub in the winter, with many of those happily propping up the bar making their way there almost on auto-pilot - as they have enjoyed a drink and light-hearted debates there with mates for years. With the summer and the town's influx of visitors the clientele naturally changes, with more of a mix of local and holidaymaker. Regatta week in August usually sees the greatest rush, but throughout the summer many of the regulars, such as Darren Vincent, enjoy sitting outside, at one of the pub's four tables, soaking up the atmosphere. Darren is among those who has been 'coming to the Lugger for years'. Tongue in cheek he said one of the attractions is 'winding up Reg'.

Sharing the bar, or tables, with him are a number of other regulars, such as husband and wife Robert and Patricia Smith, who only live up the road. They highlighted the Lugger's friendliness and the ability to 'have a laugh, and a chat' while enjoying their favourite drink.

Linda Bunney described the Lugger as 'a most comfortable pub'. She lives in Fowey and said she often eats there because of the high standard of the food, a view which was backed by Mike Bonner.

Angela Cottrell and her mother-in-law Barbara Cottrell also frequently pop into the Lugger, which is also very near their homes (they live next door to one another) for a meal. They praised the inn's 'nice atmosphere' and the 'ample portions' they always receive. Another person who also loves tucking into Lugger food is Angela's daughter Teri - although as The Cornish Times visited on a Tuesday Teri was in lessons at Fowey primary school.

The Lugger is the home of a darts team which, although termed mixed, comprises of expert ladies. They meet at the pub every Friday night and compete very ably against other teams in the Lostwithiel league.