LOOE Social Club, situated on West Looe quayside, is flourishing and friendly, and overlooking the busy harbour, has a fantastic view, making it one of the most attractive community meeting places around.

The club is in the large Mayoralty House, the premises being rented from the owners, West Looe Town Trust, and was formerly a Reading Room, before being founded as a Social Club in February 1969.

The building had been improved 'for the use of the public of Looe', with a contribution of £3,000 from the Welcome Home/War Memorial Fund.

The club, on three floors, has had various alterations and refurbishments over the years, and has a membership of around 1,400, and is still expanding. On the ground floor, is what is known as the 'bottom bar', comfortably decorated in relaxing blue, while on the second floor is a very smart and large snooker room, housing two full size tables.

The top floor is home to the main bar, which opens during the day as well as in the evenings, when the bottom bar then opens, and is also attractively furnished. This bar is also home to a coffee and cigarette machine, juke box, and gaming machines, as well as a large screen to enable members to watch all the big sporting events.

It's a very friendly place where members enjoy a chat and a drink, at very competitive prices, with a pint of mild at just £1.45, and a Worthington's Bitter at £1.49. On Sundays there is a happy hour between 12 noon and 1pm. And added to all this it is one of the few such venues to be air conditioned.

Steward for the last 14 years has been Martin Baxter, while head barman Peter Bird has been at the club for nine years. He has been a member together with his wife Dorothy for 25 years, although they didn't move permanently to Looe until 1990, when they settled in the home of their late parents, who came to the town in 1970. 'I enjoy the job very much' says Peter, 'and when I'm not working I still come along because I like to play darts as does Dorothy'.

In fact the Social Club is well into the traditional 'pub' sports. It boasts a billiards, two pool and three snooker teams, four euchre teams, three ladies darts teams and from next season the one men's darts team will expand to two.

Live bands

But there are also many other activities going on to appeal to the mixed age membership. There is regular Saturday night entertainment from live bands in the top bar, which is organised by committee vice chairman Terry Wright, while his wife Hilary, also on the committee, arranges a popular tea dance with Beryl Puckey on the first Wednesday of each month.

The second Wednesday is reserved for the more energetic line dancing afternoons. Every Thursday night there is bingo at 8pm and fun quizzes are well attended and enjoyed. Theme nights are also popular, and with a Spanish style evening just gone, Italy is next on the agenda.

The bottom bar also has its share of entertainment, with an Old Time Musical Hall in the company of Looe's very own Alan Dingle being the next function to look forward to, with the option of fancy dress to set the right atmosphere!

The club is also used as the meeting place of the Looe branches of the Royal Naval Association, the Royal British Legion and Age Concern.

Run by a management committee, the president is Ken Pengelly, and the chairman is Robert Williams. Others include Carole Spring (secretary), Carolyn Bassett (treasurer), and Dave Webb, who also organises the Sunday draw, together with Carole Spring as membership secretaries. On the committee are Brian Green (bar chairman), Tony Pengelly, Terry Lewis, John Moore, Graham Browning. West Looe Town Trust representative at meetings is the chairman, Geraldine Oliver.

When the Cornish Times called on Monday, several of the club's regulars were in the top bar, watching the nail biting final of the Wimbledon men's finals. But they were happy to take a break from the tension to tell us what they thought about the Social Club.

Twenty two year old Andrew Bull said the staff were nice and friendly and he liked to play pool and snooker, hoping to play for a team this September.

He said his twin brother James often came with him, but there was always someone to have a chat with. Aaron King (18) from Chippenham says he likes to meet up with Andrew at the club when he comes to Looe on regular visits to meet up with family. On a special weekly membership, he said the club was a nice, safe venue, the drinks are cheap and he enjoys playing pool.

Fisherman on the Galatea in the port, Philip Wright, also likes to play pool, but says because fishing in Looe depends on the tides (and the weather!) he couldn't commit to playing in one of the teams. 'But there are a good crowd here and I like coming when I can' he said.

Cheap beer

Nigel Tambling, who was born in Looe up at Sunrising, and works on the fish quay at Blue Sail. He has been a member for a number of years, and said the club was excellent with the added bonus of cheap beer.

Jim 'the meat' Langler, who enjoys his tipple of lemonade with ice sitting at the bar, said the staff were very good and there was always something going on. 'I really like the tea dances' he said, 'it is very popular and about 50 ladies and gents, including myself, go along'.

Regular visitors from Milton Keynes, Pauline and Alan Bull, who come to Looe about six times a year, have had a full membership for about eight years. 'We enjoy the company, the view, and a quiet drink' they said.

To join Looe Social Club, it costs £9 per annum, plus a £9 joining fee for new members. Visitors to Looe can be members for £1 per day during the week, and £1.50 on Saturdays and Sundays.

The last word must go to Irishman Dan Scarry, who moved to Looe in 1983,

and simply never went home again. 'I love the club' he said, 'it's the best one in South East Cornwall'.