The Coachmakers Arms at Callington is a traditional, oak beamed, olde worlde Cornish pub - with all the pluses that come with such an establishment - but with a definite added bonus.

The Coachmakers also offers an extensive menu, based around both European and Thai food. The Thai dishes, which originate from the Thai countryside, are provided by Kingkaew Jefferies (who is better known to customers as Jube), and her brother Jeap.

The Coachmakers was taken over by Jube, and her husband Roy, in April l998. Since then the reputation of their restaurant and their bistro area has spread - both for the quality of their European dishes, and their Thai meals. Some of the ingredients in the Thai meals cannot be found in this country, except on a commercial basis which makes them more bland. Instead Jube and Roy import them into the country via Heathrow, with the help of Jube's family who live in Samutsakhon, a village on the Gulf of Siam, 25 miles south of Bangkok. These include certain pastes and dried vegetables.

Jube honed her culinary expertise from childhood, at the side of her grandmother, and after moving to England also worked in various Thai restaurants in Birmingham. When she and her husband bought The Coachmakers they decided to introduce elements of Thailand to the establishment. They basically wanted a Thai influence in a traditional pub, which is precisely what they have achieved.

Roy explained that they wished to retain the pub atmosphere that the locals and visitors enjoy, and add to it. Thai specials are available all lunchtimes and on Wednesday and Sunday evenings, and European cooking can always be relished. Roy said that prices are kept as low as possible, despite the cost of some Thai ingredients such as lime leaf which is currently £30 a kilo. He highlighted the authenticity of the Thai dishes, which he described as being strong in flavour, but light to eat. He said that initially Jube tried to teach English staff to cook them, but found it was impossible to pass on knowledge which she had gained over years in a quick space of time. Eventually, to take some of the increasing work from Jube's shoulders, it was decided to ask Jeap to come to Cornwall. This happened - but only after a year's struggle with immigration to prove that his undoubted expertise was needed at The Coachma-kers.

Among those selecting a mouth-watering Thai dish on Tuesday lunchtime were Joanne Torrance of Liskeard, and her parents June and Paul Torrance, on holiday from Lincolnshire. They had never been to The Coachmakers before, but friends had recommended it to Joanne.

Roy explained that the pub, which has had a good reputation for its food throughout the years, attracts a wide variety of customers, from students at Duchy College through to senior citizens. He said: 'We have a very comfortable, relaxing atmosphere, and they all seem to settle into that.' One of the favourite occasions are Wednesday evenings when quizzes are always held, with barman Brian Hurcombe as quizmaster. They have proved to be a big hit, with money being raised along the way, with the help of winners, for charities such as the Air Ambulance and the RNLI. Brian, who has been involved in the pub trade for more than 12 years, moved to Callington in July and began working in The Coachmakers that month, starting the quizzes in August. However, he had visited the area for around 20 years and already knew the pub.

Special nights are held at The Coachmakers through the year, one recent such occasion being Burns Night. A digital camera has been bought to snap the customers as they get into the swing of such events - with the resulting images displayed afterwards in the bar.

Apart from the food The Coachmakers also has a good reputation for its real ales. Three are always provided, with two of them changed regularly. Roy said that as soon as they bought the premises food hygiene officials from Caradon council were invited down to inspect the pub and its kitchens. As a result last year - and this year - they were given Food Hygiene awards.

The pub also offers four rooms with en-suite accommodation for those wishing to stay in the heart of Callington in a room which boasts its own bathroom or shower together with colour TV, radio and tea/coffee making facilities.

Besides this Roy and Jube can offer cruises on their Moody 42' eight berth sailing ketch 'Charose of Mylor'. The cruises can be used for holidays or corporate entertainment and can be around the Cornish coast or further abroad to the Isles of Scilly, Brittany or northern Spain. Thai cuisine is also offered as part of the package.

Roy has lived and worked throughout the country, and has run a large engineering group, but decided to move to Cornwall to retire and take life easier. He is really enjoying himself at The Coachmakers, but stressed life has not been in the slow lane.

Among those sharing in the pub's hospitality on Tuesday lunchtime were Ian Grout, better known as Stan because of his similarity to Stan Laurel of Laurel and Hardy fame, and Colin Chaffe, who only lives about 500 yards from the pub. As he works in the evenings Colin said that he usually heads for the bar at the lunchtimes for a chance to relax with a welcoming pint.

The Coachmakers is 300 years old, and its traditional ambience remains, this shown in the welter of oak beams, and the comfortable settles. As its brochure explains there is just one difference - inside is a fragment of Old Thailand.