THE Decker is an apt name for the modern pub near the seafront and on the corner of East Looe's higher Market Street, because it offers two choices for its customers - on the lower and upper decks.

On the ground floor of the prominent building is the Spinnaker Bar, a large airy space with plenty of light let in by the large windows. Here customers can relax over their drinks and have a good vantage point to watch the world go by outside, which will be an interesting aspect during the height of the summer season as the tourists pour into port.

The Spinnaker is run on traditional pub lines, with normal licensing hours with closing time at 11pm. A St Austell Ales house, all the popular brands are on tap including Celtic and Duchy Bitters, Tinners, Tribute and Hicks Special Draught. Other choices include Carlsberg and Carlsberg Export, Strongbow Cider and Guinness, plus all the main 'Alco Pops', bottled beers and shorts.

Up the spiral staircase you are greeted with a different experience in the Boom Bar, which is licensed to remain open until 1am on Wednesday through to Saturday nights, with a resident DJ "Involvement" who lives up to his name, by making sure everyone is 'involved' in having a good time. This bar also has a full entertainment's licence and will soon be introducing live music on Thursday and Friday nights, plus Sunday lunchtimes.

The long bar with its black leather stools and the deep purple coloured sofas in place of the 'norm' tables and chairs, give the bar a 'retro' look.

Licensees of The Decker are Nigel and Alison Redgrave, who have had had plenty of experience in the pub trade, Nigel also being licensee of West Looe's popular Harbour Moon for the last 11 years. The couple took over The Decker, previously Bar One, last August, and it remained closed until Easter when after a major refurbishment it re-opened with a brand new identity. All the new brightly coloured sign work is the work of local artist Eric Taylor.

Delighted

'We have lightened the place up' said Nigel, 'and we are delighted that our customers, both local, and visitors, are from age groups right across the board. We are aiming to be able to please everyone'.

Nigel and Alison are particularly pleased with the menu they are serving, with the kitchen swinging into action for the first time this week. Getting away from the normal 'pub grub', the chef, who is Nigel's son, Ross Redgrave, is dishing up some tempting Mediterranean style food in keeping with the feel of the Spinnaker Bar, the decor being in warm colours. On the menu are tapas snacks and tempting seafood, using freshly caught local fish.

Nigel is particularly pleased about the pub's easy entry from right off the street, especially on pleasant days when the main doors can be swung right back. 'It gives the feeling of being in the pub but part of the holiday atmosphere at the same time' he said. 'Our wider than normal doors also means that disabled customers will have no access difficulties whatsoever'.

Enjoying his job as pub manager, and also his flat above the bars with probably one of the best views in Looe, right across the bay, is Nick Shaw. Helping him run the bars are Michelle Bews, Mark Mitchell and Andrea Dodge, while the all important doormen, who keep The Decker a safe environment for its customers, are Nick's cousin, Raffe Shaw and Steve Rourke.

Spinnaker bar

Raffe, a plasterer by trade, has recently obtained his Door Supervisor's National Certificate through the British Institute of Innkeeping. He was formerly a Liskeard/Looe RFC Colt and went on to play for Plymouth Albion.

Among the customers in the Spinnaker Bar when the Cornish Times called this week was well known local Louis Portman, who is a fish merchant on the quayside, and also senior helm of Looe's inshore lifeboat Spirit of the RAOC. He was very complimentary about the pub's new look. 'I like the friendly atmosphere' he said, 'and I am enjoying the new range of cooking on offer. It's different from traditional pub fare, and a refreshing change from pasties, and chips with everything!

There was a lot of laughter in one of the corners from three customers from Liskeard, enjoying their day off in Looe. Their first time in The Decker since its refurbishment they said they liked the new decor and the fact the bar was so bright and open. Kerry Webb, Tacey Moxham, a Lux Park swimming teacher, and Tracy Wilton, who works in the BP Addington Garage, went into fits of giggles when they admitted they came in because they thought the 'barman was a bit tasty'.

Great stay

A couple on a short break holiday from their home in London also liked the modern decor in the bar, and the view out on to the main street. Steve Cook, who went to school in Looe, and his partner Louise Mowl, formerly from Harrowbridge, were staying at the Trevanion Hotel, which they found on the internet. 'We have had a great stay with good weather, and now a nice lunchtime drink' they said.

But The Decker is not all about visitors. It already has the traditional pub sports teams. It has two darts teams, the men playing in the Looe Pub League, and the ladies in the Looe and District League, and also a men's pool team competing in the Looe and District Pool League.

On top of that, upstairs in the Boom Bar, which probably has the only remaining original sprung dance floor in Looe, Salsa classes are soon to be introduced, the teacher being Sheila Brock from Sheila's School of Dancing.

That will most certainly add even more to the carefree, Mediterranean atmosphere, at The Decker.