THE Finnygook Inn at Crafthole is owned by Earl Hotels and has been managed by Ian and Pam Walker since September 2000.

Pam is born and bred from Liskeard and her family still live in the area. She has two sons, James who still lives in Liskeard and works as a DJ, and Ben who works in the Fleet Air Arm based at Culdrose and lives in Bodmin.

Ian has been in the catering industry for the past 20 years working all over the country in quality hotels and restaurants. Previously Ian used to work for various musical artists in London, including being the road manager for the Sex Pistols!

He has two sons, Adrian, who is in the army and Kevin, who attends Looe School and Community College.

Ian and Pam agree: 'This is going to be the last place we manage before retiring and settling in Cornwall!'

The Inn has undergone extensive refurbishments over the years and an extension has been built. The Inn is food orientated and Ian is head chef as well as bearing the mantle of manager. He explained: 'We have redesigned the menu and it is extensive. We use local producers and suppliers and we have a full vegetarian menu.'

The full time chef is Alison McDonald. This summer will be her fifth summer of working at the Inn. She said: 'It does get very busy here but it's still fun. We work as a very close team. It needs to be like that to get the job done.'

At the height of summer the Finnygook Inn can expect to be serving around 100 meals every night.

Kitchen assistant is Michael Mathias who has worked at the Inn since November.

The Inn caters for bed and breakfast. They have five rooms, all en-suite and offer either a full English or continental breakfast.

Dot Raxton has been the housekeeper at the Inn since March. She said: 'I used to work at the Posthouse in Birmingham as a housekeeper and moved down to Crafthole with my husband, Alan.'

All residents at The Finnygook Inn are welcome at their sister hotel, the Whitsand Bay Hotel and are able to use the leisure complex, which includes an indoor heated swimming pool, sauna, steam room, solarium, games room and children's area free of charge.

The restaurant area can seat 70 people and the Inn hosts theme nights, the most popular being Indian and Chinese, around once every month to six weeks. The Inn is also a popular venue for engagement parties and wedding receptions.

Live entertainment evenings are held at the Inn around once a month with various artists playing, including tribute bands such as Chris Lundy from Bodmin who performs as Meatloaf.

Real ales

The Inn welcomes families and find people come from far and wide to eat at The Finnygook although Ian advises customers to book from Thursday to Monday and especially for Sunday lunches.

The Bar sells a selection of real ales and beers and the cask conditioned ales are regularly changed. Assistant manager is Christopher Gowan who can usually be found managing the bar.

Emily Stubberfield has worked part time at the Finnygook Inn for the past 18 months. She attends Portsmouth University studying Pharmacy. She said: 'There is a really nice atmosphere here although it gets a bit hectic for us sometimes.'

Shaun Gordon has worked at the Inn for the past 18 months. He mainly works behind the bar and when he's not at work he attends Plymouth Art College as does Richard Upton, another employee at the Inn.

Gemma McDonald, Alison's daughter, has worked at the Inn for the past three years as a waitress. She lives at Polbathic and attends Torpoint sixth form.

A regular at the pub is Steve Wilson who lives in Crafthole. Steve is a self employed builder and moved to Crafthole six years ago from North Wales. His parents, John and Elaine Wilson, ran the pub for five years previous to Ian and Pam taking over.

Steve said: 'I know the area as I used to come on holidays here as a child. I like the atmosphere in the pub, it's a friendly place and handy. You always get a good welcome. The Inn is the main meeting place for the whole village.'

From Cheshire, Bob Daniels, Martin Goldthorpe and Peter Holden with his dog, Raq, stopped for a meal at the pub during their walking holiday.

Bob and Martin are walking the 400 mile South West coast path in stages, taking a one week holiday each year to complete each stage.

Martin is the principal consultant for his engineering analysis firm, Bob is an independent financial advisor and Peter is retired.

Peter explained: 'I am the support crew for the walk. I find the pubs and accommodation for the night.'

Bob said: 'It's very nice here. Good service, a good menu and a good bar.'

Alan and Leslie Boon from Lancashire, on holiday in Looe, were having lunch at the Inn. Leslie said: 'They serve very good food here.'

Stephen Poole, the golf pro at Whitsand Bay hotel golf club lives at Crafthole and is a regular at the pub.

Stephen moved to Whitsand in 1976. He commented: 'It's a lovely pub.'

15th century

His mother moved to Crafthole and bought a cribbage board within two days of moving there to play at the pub.

The Inn dates back to the 16th Century as a coaching house and was once the haunt of smugglers. It is named after Silas Finny who lived in the area in the 18th Century.

Silas Finny apparently had a severe disagreement with his fellow law-breakers over the precise details of a proposed landing of a cargo of brandy, lace and baccy at Whitsand Bay. As a result of the disagreement he revealed to the excise men the details of the landing and made himself absent when the event took place. Some of the smugglers were arrested and were deported to Botany Bay in Australia.

Some time afterwards, Finny was finally 'done to death' at Bligers Well, half way up the hill between Crafthole and Portwrinkle, no doubt as a salutary lesson to fellow renegades.

His 'Gook' reputedly haunts the area and some local families who have lived in the area for many years will not walk between crafthole and Portwrinkle during the dark hours.

Strange incidents

Finny has not been seen at the Inn for many years but some strange incidents occur from time to time. Steve Wilson has experienced an unexplainable incident when his parents ran the pub.

He said that a pile of logs were placed under the gas fire in the centre of the bar room. The pub was locked up and there were only himself and his father in the building. They went upstairs and heard a noise downstairs - and when they went down to investigate the pile of logs had been laid on top of the gas fire!

Other incidents have happened such as the gas tap for the fire, which both Steve and Pam have found to be very difficult and stiff to turn on, being twisted on one lunchtime. They both agree that there is no way that could have happened. The fire has since been disconnected.

Steve also explained that many of the 'old boys' in the village refuse to walk down Finny Lane, between Crafthole and Portwrinkle.

The Inn opens from 10.30am for teas and coffees, lunch is served from 12 until 2pm with menus and optional meals on the boards. Snacks are served from 2pm until 6pm and evening meals are served from 6pm until 9pm.

The Inn caters for parties and can provide budgeted menus depending on how much you wish to spend.

The Finnygook Inn is set between the sea and the countryside and is an ideal stopping point for walkers or golfers from the nearby golf course.