TRICIA Beard and her partner Neil Bate became tenants at The Earl of Chatham pub in August 2000 for St Austell Brewery.

Tricia used to run a restaurant at St Austell and immediately before taking over the pub she worked in the accounts department at St Austell Brewery. Neil works as a consultant, and behind the bar during weekends and evenings.

Tricia has one ten-year-old daughter, Lauren, and Neil has two daughters, Victoria, aged 13 and seven-year-old Abigail.

The pub has three darts team, one ladies and two mixed. The teams are in the Lostwithiel Darts League.

The pub hosts many events. Quiz nights are held every Thursday night and quiz master is landlord Neil. A hairdresser visits the pub on Thursday evenings to cut anyone's hair. It started because Neil works full time and never had any time to get his hair cut. Tricia explained: 'We got this hairdresser to come to the pub to cut Neil's hair and then other people wanted to have their hair cut as well so it's become a regular visit'.

Live music

Live music is played every Wednesday fortnight and several groups regularly play at the pub. These include Opium, a rock duo whose next date at the pub is on May 30, Pete Berryman and Stu Porter on the guitar and harmonica on June 6, Jo La Cat, another rock duo, playing on June 29 - and local man, Billy Rose, who plays 60s and 70s revival, is at the pub on July 4. The late P D Williams also used to play at the pub regularly.

Lesley Sanderson is the cook at the pub. She started working as a waitress on Sundays at around the same time as Neil and Tricia took over. Lesley, who only lives a few doors away, was then promoted to chef in February.

Lesley cooks all food to order and almost all of the ingredients are locally produced and bought. The Sunday roasts are very popular and portions are generous.

Lesley commented: 'It can get really busy in here especially during evenings and weekends. There is an enjoyable atmosphere to work in and everyone gets on well.'

Chris, who lives across the road said: 'Neil and Tricia are the most loveliest people we've met. There is a really good atmosphere in here and they serve brilliant Sunday lunches.'

He added: 'There is an easy going, relaxed atmosphere here, it's handy for golfers on the golf course down the road and for fishing.'

Part of a ceiling in the pub is decorated with old golf clubs which Neil and Tricia have begged from people around the town. Tricia explained: 'We're only a little way from the golf course and we thought having a ceiling covered in golf clubs would make quite a feature, just a bit unusual. We begged old and unused clubs from many people who we know.'

Bikers

The 'Mild Bunch', a group of bikers, of which Chris is a member, meet every Thursday fortnight at the pub, go for a ride during the evening, stop off for a quick drink wherever they end up and then return to The Earl of Chatham. At the moment there are around six or seven people that take part in the ride, mostly, as Tricia explained: 'People who have bikes as hobbies and like the occasional ride around.'

A regular at the pub is 'Trucker'. He has lived in Lostwithiel for the past 16 years and commented: 'It's a great little pub. You get a good pint and decent conversation, it has a lot of character now and is getting more and more popular.'

The pub has just been awarded the Cask Marque from St Austell Brewery for serving the 'perfect pint'.

Kevin Watson has lived in Lostwithiel all his life and has used the Earl of Chatham as his local ever since he was 'legal'. He commented: 'There is more atmosphere at the pub nowadays and you get a wider range of people in here now.'

The black painted wood beams in the main bar are the home of many limericks, jokes and comments that Neil and Tricia and some of the locals have written over the months. Some rude, some funny and some that you really cannot get unless you are apt to speak in different accents!

James Lewsey has lived in Lostwithiel for over two years. He said: 'I come in the pub quite often, I think it's the best pub around here. It's out of the way and relaxed.'

James, a tree surgeon, brought into the pub his new puppy, 'Otter', who will be trained to be a gun dog. The pub welcomes children and dogs which is lucky as Otter makes himself very much at home!

Another interesting part of the pub are the toilets - an unusual place to be interesting but the pictures on the walls make it worthwhile having a quick look around the door!

Community pub

The pub has three Bed and Breakfast rooms, two doubles and one family room with a double bed and a bunk bed. Paul Hendicott is currently taking advantage of the reasonable rates and is staying while his house is being renovated. Paul works nights at Devonport and he wakes up just in time for a lunchtime pint and lunch! He said: 'It's a great pub, small and traditional but a good community pub. They have good music playing here and Neil and Tricia have really pulled the pub around.'

The Earl of Chatham has a paved beer garden and part of that has been covered over by a marquee to protect it from rain and sun.

A French Boules piste has been uncovered in the car park recently and Tricia is hoping that it will be used during the summer months.

The lounge bar has a new addition to it - a piano - brought to the pub by Neil and Tricia. Tricia said: 'We are hoping to find someone who is able to play the piano regularly. We held a carol evening with some members of the church here over Christmas which ended up being a pub sing-along.'

Tricia commented: 'The Earl of Chatham is a local pub, everyone tends to pop in quite late and it can get busy during evenings and weekends. We welcome everyone and we get passing trade in the summer.'