THE Old Globe Posting House, in the centre of Fowey, no doubt has more than a few tales to tell - for it features amongst the oldest buildings in the historic riverside town.

Jenny Bancroft, the current leaseholder with her husband Nick, said she believes it is the oldest hotel in Fowey, still standing and thriving despite being burnt down twice in past centuries.

Jenny, who has lived in Fowey for the past 23 years, said she thinks it is the oldest hotel around and about.

Its name reveals some of its history, for it was the collection point for the post which came in by both sea and by road, and was the distributed. At the back there are buildings converted from what were the old stables where all the many horses were kept at night.

The relaxing and cosy 'front room' of the hotel and bistro was in fact once a covered yard, and the window was the archway through which the horses swung in.

Hearty

The wooden surround of the window - towards the top - retains the curve which allowed the horses, and the waggons they pulled, easier access.

Jenny and Nick have run the premises for the past eight years. They not only have hotel rooms, but are also a restaurant, with two rooms for their eating customers. They have a meetings and a supper licence, so are also the venue for meetings at times for a number of local organisations. These include the Troy Players, with whom Jenny has trodden the board on a number of occasions.

The Players are putting on their autumn production Clerical Errors, which is to run from October 31 to November 3 in Fowey Town Hall. This time Jenny will not be amongst the stars, for she has found life too busy recently to find time to learn lines, and practise, as well!

Other visitors to The Globe are the Red Arrows team who arrive there for a drink after their daredevil performance at Fowey's Royal Regatta each year.

Hearty, healthy breakfasts are provided in the mornings at the Old Globe, as well as delicious evening meals, and tempting cream teas in the afternoons - all a big hit with customers.

Fires

There is an impressive and wide-ranging evening menu, including meals for vegetarians, as well as steaks, and of course fish, as Fowey is so influenced by sea and river.

Jenny herself is in charge of the cooking, ensuring the ingredients are of the best, and really fresh.

Apart from taking a holiday each year, and closing for a small period over Christmas, Jenny and Nick (who have two grown-up children, Paul and Collette) are open throughout the year, giving a friendly Fowey welcome to those using their non-smoking restaurant facilities, and those staying in their six guest rooms.

In the past the premises served just as a hotel, but the past few owners turned it into a restaurant as well - something the Bancrofts have happily continued with.

Their premises open at 8.30am for their wholesome breakfasts, while last orders for dinner are taken at l0pm.

During the day, of course, the Cornish cream teas and coffees can be enjoyed in a building which Nick puts at probably built in the late 1400s. The two fires, however, meant that all of The Globe does not date from the same period.

The hotel and restaurant is ideally sited, being in the middle of Fore Street, amongst all the many shops - and also only yards from the river.

Due to this it is very much part of all Fowey's major celebrations, and during regatta week its comfortable restaurant facilities are in great demand.

Jenny explained that they are usually packed out during that week, which is traditionally held in August.

Due to the half-term holidays the town was crowded on Monday.

Jenny said she was amazed there were still so many people around, and said that the season had been very good as well. One of the reasons, she felt, was the Eden Project, at nearby Bodelva, which she believes has made a great difference to the area, and to businesses like theirs.

Nick agreed, but also felt that the recent spell of fine weather in Cornwall had played its part as well, in bringing people to Fowey.