THE Wilcove Inn, where the landlord and landlady are Paul Argrave and his partner Tina Bradshaw, is situated on the waterside with superb views over the River Tamar.
Paul and Tina have run the pub for eight years. Paul initially moved from Windsor to Wilcove, and was a shoe repairer in Torpoint. He used the Wilcove Inn as his local for seven years before taking it on.
The pub has two pool teams in the Torpoint League and anyone is welcome to join. It also hosts regular quiz nights usually on Wednesdays, for fun, although such nights have been held for charity.
Paul said: 'We are a traditional English country pub, we try to be an alternative to the town pubs.'
The pub was originally called The New Inn until the 1960s and Paul and Tina have been gradually undertaking refurbishment work in the building and have uncovered a fireplace in the bar which now houses a woodburner. Also discovered was a wood panelled wall upstairs, hinged to allow it to be swung up to make the two rooms one large room. This was allegedly to allow for tenants to come and pay their taxes and rent.
The pub has a ladies' darts team who meet on Monday nights. The captain is Diane Salisbury who moved to the village 18 months ago and lives behind the pub. She said: 'It's a lovely friendly place, not only the pub, but the whole village. The darts team is getting there. We are feeling our feet.'
The pub hosts the annual regatta, usually a canoe race around the bay, and various theme nights held when there is anything to celebrate or commemorate.
The pub had a Britain in the Blitz theme to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the D-Day landings and were host to the crew of the USS Austin who were moored in the Tamar.
Paul and Tina invited some of the crew to join the pub - which they did happily.
The eclipse in 1999 was also celebrated with the pub serving traditional Cornish cream teas.
Regatta
The inn is run with the help of three staff members, including Di Marlow who has worked there for two years, after helping out for one day for the regatta.
Tina commented: 'We have many friends who help us out.'
The pub is children and dog friendly, with a children's room at the back which, said Tina, is useful as the parents can sit in the bar and know their children can 'escape' by going through the bar.
Paul and Tina have two children, six-year-old Danielle and Georgina, aged three. They also own one dog, Murphy, a pure bred German Shepherd, who by Paul's own confession is 'a complete lunatic!'
Paul's mum, Eileen, lives at Antony and comes to the pub quite a lot. She said: 'It's lovely here, really friendly, everyone is always talking. Sunday afternoons here are like Sunday afternoons at home. We all sit round and play cards and have a natter, it's really comfortable.' Eileen also brings her dog Fred to the pub.
Margaret Waterman has lived in Wilcove for 18 months. She commented: 'In good walking distance from the pub, just around the corner! The pub is brilliant, there's a really nice atmosphere. If you walk in on your own you feel comfortable. On New Year's Eve it's amazing as you get a free display of the fireworks from Plymouth!'
The pub has a large beer garden framed by palm trees growing along the front wall which is tended by Paul and Jason 'Jibber'. Barbecues are also a regular occurrence during the summer. The Wilcove Inn is decked out in hanging baskets and tubs around the front during the summer season.
Tina said: 'It is a really lovely spot. We have a lot of wildlife around the area due to the river, and two swans have been by the pub for several days now.'
Paul continued: 'We are very definitely a riverside pub. Our car park is even tidal! Once or twice a year we get really high tides and the car park becomes a mini lake!'
Jason moved to Wilcove from Bristol two years ago. He helps Paul with the gardening and is a member of the B pool team who meet on Tuesdays. His uncle, Trevor Byrne, introduced him to the pub and it has been his local ever since.
Two characters from the village who attend the pub regularly are Trevor Byrne and Tony Maidment.
Tina said: 'They are characters of the pub, always in here of a Sunday and having a laugh about every and anything!'
Friendly
Another regular is taxi driver Neil Aldridge who enjoys coffee and the occasional pint when he is off duty.
Neil lives next door to the pub and he said: 'It's a very, very nice friendly pub.
'They serve extremely good beer and there are quite a few characters in the village who come here.'
Lee and Kerry Fernley live close to the pub, as Kerry put it: 'Close enough to stagger home'.
They moved to the village six years ago from Bournemouth and usually visit The Wilcove Inn for a relaxing drink.
Lee is the B pool team and he said: 'There is a very friendly, relaxed atmosphere.'
Kerry agreed and said: 'In here you are treated like friends not just customers. They have good food and good beer. This is our main social life.'
Kerry joked: 'But of course we come here most of all to see our favourite neighbour, Neil!'
The food served at the pub is mostly home made by Tina or Di Marlow, and Sunday roasts have recently been introduced to the menu.
The pub is dedicated to real ales and even have one from St Austell Brewery named: www dot @ wilcove dot 3.7 slash.
Paul has collections of various items including old style cameras, plaques and clocks.
He explained: 'They are just things we inherited with the pub, or things that we have acquired over the years that interest us.'
The Wilcove Inn is close to the woodland walks around National Trust's Antony House, and attracts people from many walks of life, from Navy personnel with HMS Raleigh situated up the road to nature lovers and locals.
Paul commented: 'People come here to talk and it is a drinkers' pub. Our notice on the walls definitely applies - 'There are no strangers here . . . Only friends we have yet to meet!'