The White Horse, in its position at the heart of Liskeard, was one of seven coaching inns founded in the late seventeen hundreds, when communications were improving rapidly through Cornwall. Inns were established to provide services for passengers and a place to change horses on the route to Falmouth, the centre for the overseas package service.

Once standing at the centre of the Parade, records state that the White Horse was removed in 1811. However, parts of the Grade 2 listed building have been dated at around 500 years old - it's probable that beams from the former inn were used to reconstruct the pub in its present position.

Landlord and Landlady Nobby and Christine Clark have maintained the pub's interior in keeping with its history. Oak beams are the long bar's prominent feature, and the pub is decorated with authentic brasses. The history of Liskeard over the last hundred years is played out all along one wall in the shape of a huge collection of black and white photographs. Says Christine: 'Nobby started collecting the pictures and people gradually started bringing them in - pictures that they'd found in their attics or that belonged to their parents. Sometimes people buy them at antiques fairs and give them to us but it's mainly locals bringing in their own photos.'

History notwith-standing, the White Horse is a forward looking pub and Christine and Nobby have made a lot of improvements since taking over the lease in 1987. The beer garden had a make over last year and is now ready for another summer of live music and barbecues. As chef Lora Winkler explained the food on the grill is more than your average burger in a bap: 'We do homemade chilli burgers and kebabs - we even went a bit adventurous recently and made chinese burgers.' Apart from the barbecues there is a range of 'pub-grub' available every lunchtime. Christine serves up homemade roast dinners on Sundays - and Nobby is famous for his indian curries, a skill passed to him by his dad.

Three generations of the Clark family were in the pub when we visited - Nobby's mum who enjoys a drink after walking the dog and Nobby's son Lee who used to live at the pub and still helps out on Fridays. Christine's daughter Diane Green also used to work there full time and lends a hand whenever they need her.

Another member of staff enjoying a tipple in her time off was manageress Anya Kessell, who recently joined husband David in managing the inn - between them they 'do a bit of everything'. The pub has two more full time employees - Lora Winkler and Tracey Starr, and other part-timers when it gets busy.

Live music

On the lunchtime we visited there were a good sprinkling of regulars enjoying a quiet drink - but at the weekends the atmosphere is very different, with crowds of people gathering for the live music every Thursday and Sunday night. Said Christine: 'We have wall to wall people in here from Thursday to Sunday. And it's very rarely we have any bother - they're so tightly packed they can't move in any case!'

Manager David Kessell is in charge of the entertainment bookings and caters for a wide audience with diverse musical offerings. When the weather gets warmer the bands will move outside to a purpose-built stage in the beer garden.

Regulars to the White Horse all commented on the great atmosphere when there's live entertainment on - but when they're not listening to it, they're producing it themselves, as Andy Maslen told us: 'I've been coming in here for about 20 years, I've always liked it. There's a big group of us that always come and sit in this corner - we often end up singing, with someone playing the guitar.'

Another regular Michael Firsman keeps his accordion upstairs at the pub and it's often brought out so they can have a singalong to Cornish songs.

Andy described how the corner of the pub that he and his friends always gather in used to be called 'Albion corner' but was recently renamed 'Russell corner' after a well-loved regular who recently passed away - Russell Hams. Russell who 'always used to come in to do his crossword' passed away this year, and a memorial to him hangs in his corner with a brass plaque.

Russell always carried a text entitled 'The Home Town of Jesus' and his Army reserve certificate with him in his wallet, and these together with photos of him as a young Army reserve, and more recently celebrating his birthday in the pub, form a framed memorial to a man who was a 'dear, dear character' according to landlady Christine. She continued: 'Russell had been coming in here from at least the time I arrived. He was definitely a much-loved character in the pub - people would come in especially to see him, to have a laugh and a giggle.'

Another pair having a giggle were regular Barbara Conniss from Liskeard, and her friend Norma MacDonald, who moved back to Cornwall very recently after a spell in Surrey. Barbara was clear that she thought the White Horse was the best pub in town, for it's colourful atmosphere and the fact that the landlord and lady are so welcoming. Barbara who comes in at least every weekend said: 'The pub fills up in the afternoons and it's a good laugh. Since they've been doing the barbecues it's really nice outside. The music they do isn't just for youngsters - it's varied and for all ages.'

Loyal

The White Horse has something for sports enthusiasts too, with its pool team winners of the East Cornwall B section, a euchre team that has its sights on winning the A section this year, and even its own football team.

Seventy six year old Steve Hawes must have set a few records, having come in the pub for an amazing 60 years! And not counting 11 years when he was in the Royal British Legion, Mr Hawes has been always been loyal to the White Horse. He said: 'I come in here for the company. We get all the news and all the gossip in here - who's gone off with who - you hear it all!'

Mr Hawes certainly must have heard a few things in his time and has seen a few landlords and landladies come and go - but said: 'I've always liked Nobby and Christine - it makes a lot of difference who the landlord and lady are.'

Christine and Nobby certainly make an effort for their regulars, laying on a free buffet every Easter and at Christmas which gets everyone together. Said Christine: 'It's a bit of fun and we make a night out of it. We always do a prize draw and there's live entertainment.'

The White Horse is a pub with something for everyone, whether you want to sup a cool pint in the sunshine or listen to a band, shoot some pool or just enjoy the banter over the bar - all at the heart of town.