THE Ship Inn at Polmear, Par, is a stone's throw from the sands of Par beach.

The inn has been owned by the Matthews family, parents Ann and Chris and son David for the past three years. Daughter Sarah also works there.

The family live at Tywardreath and Chris and David used to come to the pub to play in the brass band concerts which still take place in the large beer garden.

David explained: 'We always said that if it ever came up for sale we'd buy it - and it did at the right time.'

Chris owned and ran a plumbing and central heating business and David had just finished a civil engineering degree at Nottingham University when they bought the pub. David missed the first 10 days of owning the inn due to finishing his final exams.

The inn was built in the mid-1700s and a few snippets of historical interest include the fact that it was the venue for the prizegiving for the local ploughing competitions and it was also used to conduct an autopsy after a man fell off the harbour in Par.

The inn has been extensively refurbished with the main bar, family room, restaurant and beer gardens being totally re-decorated.

The main bar has been changed from tongue and groove cladding to exposed stone and plaster. There is a granite slab floor and carpet, a gas fire at one end of the bar and a Cornish range at the other.

David explained: 'We only put the stove on if it's very cold because it works incredibly well and can get too hot!'

There is a separate seating area divided from the main bar by a low wall and two large oak wheels.

David said: 'We needed to divide the area but still see in to it at the same time, so this seemed like the best idea and it fits well with the style of the pub.'

There are exposed beams in the low ceiling, some of which are decorated with the guest ale signs that have been served at the pub over the years.

The oak bar has a 3D design of a boat on the front and side as Chris and his brother Peter used to be champion gig rowers. Chris last rowed 22 years ago.

Peter is a fisherman and supplies all the crabs and lobsters used at the pub while Chris's other brother, Colin, took over their father's fruit and veg shop in Par although he sold it two years ago. Chris's father Des was the chairman of the Cornish Rowing Gig Association.

Chris and Ann's daughter Sarah works part-time at the pub and she lives just up the road with her husband Gary Giles and one-year-old daughter Rhianna.

Favourites

The inn serves four real ales, Draught Bass, Masters Pedigree, Sharps Doom Bar and a guest ale.

David is the creator of the whiskey selection behind the bar, where a wide range of whiskeys, from the originals and old favourites to the more unusual adorn the top shelf.

There is a non-smoking conservatory area at the back of the building looking out to the pub garden.

The upstairs restaurant is tastefully decorated with plaster and exposed stone walls, a large window overlooking the beer gardens and further out towards the beach and several porthole style windows also let in the light. There are exposed beams and enough tables to seat 40 to 50 people. The restaurant menu and bar menu are both compiled by David and the head chef, Jodi Waters.

Jodi moved to Cornwall in March this year from Wiltshire where she was working as a chef and was offered the job at the pub. She explained: 'I've always worked in catering and have progressed through the ranks. All the meals are home-made, even the desserts. The only problem is finding the time to do it all.'

She continued: 'Nothing can prepare you for working in a pub this size and being as busy as it gets at the height of summer. We produce meals all day and they all have to be right. We have to work as a close team.'

Jodi has re-designed the dessert menu, keeping the old favourites and adding a few new ideas.

Also available is the 'steak on a stone' meal, where you get to cook your steak to your liking on a hot stone.

Jodi added: 'We use local ingredients as much as possible and fresh fish.'

Two other chefs help Jodi in the kitchen, Laura and Louise. The Ship Inn employs around 10 to 15 staff during the winter months and up to 25 during the summer.

Mike and Sheila Downes from Trenarren started going to the pub recently after a friend recommended it to them.

Sheila said: 'It's a very nice family pub. Everyone's polite and there's a good welcome. The food is excellent and the atmosphere is lovely.'

Mike added: 'It makes all the difference that it's a family-run pub and the beer is great - there's a wide range to choose from!'

Morris Carne, who has lived in St Blazey all his life, commented: 'I started coming to the pub when I was about 16 but I only started coming back here earlier in the summer after I took my son's dog for a walk and thought I could do with a drink afterwards.'

He added: 'I come here regularly now, it's the only place I use. There is a brilliant, fantastic atmosphere and Chris, Ann, David and Sarah all work so well together.'

Vintage

The large beer garden is the venue for many brass band concerts and jazz concerts. Chris and David, with a few tradesmen who drink at the pub, constructed the undercover bandstand, covered seating area and children's play area.

David said: 'Having a covered bandstand and seating area, everyone stays at the pub to listen to the music whatever the weather!'

Brass bands come from all over the county to play at the pub and the regular jazz bands who visit are the Fowey River Band, Penny Royal and Clay City Stompers, although bands from further afield also come to the inn to play.

Near to the pub there are two log cabins and two cottages which are rented out to holiday makers. Four more log cabins are being built and should be ready by summer 2002. Since the Eden Project has opened David commented that they are seeing a definite increase in the amount of trade, not only at the inn but also in the cottages and cabins during the autumn and winter months, whereas usually the cottages would stay closed.

Dick Edward-Collins from Lostwithiel was having lunch with his cousin, Sheila Chapman-Mortimer, at the inn after it was recommended to him by his wife.

Dick commented: 'We've just been saying how splendid it is and the food is excellent.'

Graham Brasier who lives at Tywardreath came to the pub in his vintage Volkswagen Beetle.

He said: 'I've been coming here for about 50 years. I think that the inn is very good, excellent.'

Graham is a motorsport enthusiast and has taken part in various races including a Monte Carlo race and a marathon this September from Belgium to Italy to name but a few.

The inn has a darts board but no team and a euchre team who play in the St Austell and District League.

A treasure chest competition is held every Friday.