THE Fishermans Arms pub on the waterside at Golant is in a picturesque setting and the locals are the life and soul of any party!

Michael and Lesley Moran have run the pub for the past four years and moved to Golant from Lancashire, where Michael was a transport manager for a large bus company.

Lesley explained: 'We've always hankered after running a pub and we found the Fishermans Arms which was, at the time, owned by Ushers of Trowbridge, and it was ideal for us.'

The pub is now owned by Inspired Inns although Ushers Best is one of the three real ales that are served, including Founders Ale and Courage Best.

Lesley said: 'Being a small village it was quite daunting moving here but there are people from all walks of life and everyone mixes and get on incredibly well.'

An organisation named 'The Fishermans Friends' based at the pub raises money for the annual community fireworks display held on November 5.

Various events take place throughout the year including the annual raft race, duck race, carnival and Easter Sunday activities, including an Easter bonnet parade, decorated eggs competition and egg rolling.

Another annual charity event is held each year to raise money for MacMillan Nurses.

A few years ago a regular customer at the pub, Basil, who was suffering from cancer, needed an electric wheelchair. An auction was held and over £1,000 was raised.

Gwenda Towell, Basil's wife, explained: 'We needed £400 for the wheelchair but we made so much more that we decided to donate it to the MacMillan Nurses. When Basil died we donated this wheelchair to them as well.'

Sue Rothera, a local, added: 'The action got ridiculous, we even sold the empty beer crates the auctioneer was standing on! Basil was held in high esteem by everyone in the community.'

Gwenda has lived at Golant for 37 years and said:'The pub is great, the landlord and lady are fun and everyone has a laugh.'

Sue Rothera and her partner, Phil Reardon, have lived in Golant for the past six years. They used to own a Dutch barge, which was the biggest boat on the river, and their home!

Phil is a member of the Fishermans Friends and is also well known as being Father Christmas in the local pantomime group. He works as a woodturner and writes for a woodturning magazine.

Sue, also known as 'Sue 1', as there are several Sues in the village, breeds Angora goats and sells their fleeces for Mohair.

The couple come to the pub with their dog Berty but have to leave Finn, an Irish Wolfhound, at home as he is too big and the pub too busy! Berty demonstrated the 'Doggy Bar' where the local dogs gather to meet and get given treats by Michael and Lesley!

Richard and Sue Strode, (Sue 2) bought a holiday home in Golant just over two years ago. Since that time they come to the village almost every weekend!

Sue explained: 'The first day I came here I was on my own, doing some decorating, met Gwenda in the shop and she invited me to the pub in the evening.

'I was quite dubious but it is a brilliant pub for women on their own, it's a very friendly place in quite a unique village! On my first night at the pub I won the murder mystery and Richard and I come here whenever we are visiting.'

Sue and Richard live in North Somerset during the week where Richard is a manager for a large company and Sue works for an accountant.

'Sue 1 said: 'Richard and Sue may not live here full time but they throw themselves into all the community activities and we're all really good friends.'

Both Sue 1 and Sue 2 join in with the various fancy dress occasions at the pub, especially on New Years Eve, where there is a theme for each year.

A group of them, including Gwenda, have dressed up as 'A Proper Bunch of Charlies' - dressing as Prince Charles, Charlie Chaplin and Charlie Dimmock!

There are more chances for the locals to dress up at the regularly-held Murder Mysteries, with another due in October!

Roy and Cath Slater retired to Golant from the family printing business in Essex ten years ago, although they bought a holiday home in the village in 1967.

Cath explained: 'We just love it here, the village and the pub. All the people are wonderful and there are always great conversations and a lot of laughter.'

Mechanic, Mark Rundle, has lived in the village for 20 years. His mum, Pamela, runs the Post Office. He was having a drink with regular visitor, Peter Oldfield from West Yorkshire, who works as a draftsman.

Peter comes to the village once a year and they are both 'submariners'.

The pub has an institution of the 'Submariners Certificate', a certificate presented to anyone who has been fortunate enough to fall in the river and gone completely under without injuries!

Peter's holiday usually includes fishing, golfing, going for a drink at the Fishermans Arms and falling off Mark's boat!

The pub, purpose built in 1826, has a main bar area, a family room, beer garden and two bed and breakfast rooms, one being en-suite.

During the winter in the main bar a piano takes pride of place and the log fire is burning regularly.

Another couple who are regulars in the village are Carl and Rachel, dress designers from London, who loved the village so much they married in the church.

The pub organised the wedding reception and most of the villagers helped in some way, from lending cars – due to the Foot and Mouth outbreak it was decided to use local cars – catering, waitering and decorating!

The pub has an extensive menu designed and cooked by Neil Lilley. He has worked as a chef for around 16 years and at the pub for three. Neil, it is joked, is a temperamental, 'absolutely gorgeous' (one of the Sues!) chef.

The chef's specialities are changed every two to three days. All the ingredients are as local and fresh as possible. Neil is helped in the kitchen by Ben White, who lives across the road, and can be in work within five minutes of Lesley yelling for him!

The waitresses who work all year round are Beth and Claire, over the summer months they are helped by Charity.

The Fishermans Arms is holding its first ever beer festival on August 26, 27 and 28.

Starting on Sunday afternoon there will be live music with the 'Bucket Boys' a local band formerly called the 'Steve Turner Band' and a popular Hog Roast, and on Monday the Incredibly Amateur Dramatics Society, consisting of many locals in the village are performing.

There will be around 15 real ales on sale including Sharps and Celtic ales from Lostwithiel. Other activities over the three days include competitions, a wood turning demonstration from Phil Reardon and the chance to collect free pub T-shirts.

There is a continual hum of conversation and laughter heard from The Fishermans Arms and all there join in as part of the community.