THE Archer Arms at Lewannick was not always the warm and friendly pub it now is - welcoming to all customers in need of a refreshing pint or a home-cooked meal.

In fact for around 50 years it was closed as an Inn, having been bought by two Methodist sisters who turned it into a Temperance Hotel instead! The Archer shut to trade in this way in l920, but re-opened in l972 after being bought by a builder who refurbished it, and renewed its life as a pub.

The Archer was bought in October 1997 by landlady Janice Hilton, and her business partner Gordon Pratt, who lives in Newquay. Since then it has undergone a complete renovation, being changed from a pub with plastic sixties decor and a formica-topped bar, to a traditional-look oak-beamed building with brassware and an impressive bar made of English elm.

It was Janice who started food there, and now offers customers delicious meals, from bar snacks to three course meals and lunchtime and evening roasts - the speciality being the Rib Eye Steaks purchased from a local butcher. Janice stressed that as much of the food as possible is locally sourced, and is fresh and home cooked.

The pub offers a mouth-watering Christmas menu, which was being enjoyed on Tuesday lunchtime by a large group from Devonport Dockyard who were marking the retirement of Dave Griffiths. They termed their food 'excellent' and extremely well priced.

Serving them with Janice, who happily undertook the cooking, was staff member Sarah Pridham. Both she, and her mother Margot Pridham, are members of the Lewannick Amateur Dramatic Society, Sarah to star as the storyteller in Sleeping Beauty which will be performed in the New Year.

The attractive restaurant area was formed during the renovations - Gordon saying that the area was once solely filled with a huge pool table. Special events have been held successfully in the pub since the refurbishment took place, including a wedding reception, anniversaries and a christening etc, and anyone wanting further information about choosing The Archer for such celebrations should just ring Janice on 01566 782450.

Janice ran The Boatman pub at Saltash for ten years, when it was owned by Gordon, and so has strong ties with South East Cornwall. Her daughter and son-in-law Karen and Ian Henderson still live in Saltash, with their son four-year-old Conor, while Janice's son Alan Hilton also resides there. Her mother, Norah Chown, lives near her in Lewannick, though, in some senior citizens' apartments.

Janice said she has been made very welcome since moving to The Archer, named not after a bowman but after the local squire, the last of his line who is buried in the churchyard opposite. Since being at Lewannick she has revised the old May Day tradition, a village event with dancing around the maypole, which received enormous support and will be staged again in 2002. The May Day events plus other pub events raised £1,500 for the Air Ambulance last year, while this year's monies are for parish activities. A number of local organisations gather at The Archer, central to the village and the parish which also includes Polyphant, and with a handy, good sized pub car park. It is well-signed off the A30, and attracts a number of holidaymakers, Gordon explaining that he is sure they have benefited from visitors making their way to, or from, the Eden Project, and seeking somewhere to break their journey and enjoy some good food.

The Archer is a free house but stocks St Austell ales, Janice explaining that when holidaymakers visit they usually want to drink 'the local brew'.

The pub hosts quiz nights, a weekly bonus ball competition, and has darts and euchre teams, which play in Launceston-based leagues. The euchre teams were well established before Janice took over the reins, but she began the darts team.

Among her customers on Tuesday was Chris Ollerenshaw, owner of the nearby Peninney Residential Home, and therefore based near the pub which he called 'very informal and friendly'. Chris explained that in l890 the vicar of the church opposite burnt the building down in l890, and it is now a mixture of Norman and Victorian styles. He also mentioned a number of local Celtic crosses which monks used as signposts to help direct them on their journeys.

There are a large number of people who have made a return journey to The Archer Arms, after enjoying the hospitality supplied by Janice and her team, and the relaxing decor which makes the pub an ideal watering hole.