THE Market Inn at St Cleer has been owned by Paul Roach for just over a year and has been gradually refurbished since November.

The bar and restaurant area has been swopped over. The previous stone bar in the old bar and pool room was demolished and a smaller wood panelled bar was introduced.

In the time that Paul has owned The Market Inn he has provided central heating, a new roof, new carpets and a patio.

Paul explained: 'The restaurant will become a more comfortable lounge area and the restaurant will be upstairs, with access from a spiral staircase in the corner of the lounge.

Paul worked as an imports and exports manager for an oil company for 20 years and spent much of his time working in Bangladesh. He said: 'The opportunity for buying and running The Market Inn came up and I took it.'

The history of The Market Inn is sparse. Local folklore is that it was built as an inn and hotel for the workers building the church. Paul said that the date of the inn must be around 1750, because that is the date on the replaced lead roof of the church.

The Market Inn employees 13 staff, both full and part-time. The full-time chef is Nick Gee assisted by Rachel Holder.

The inn is currently running a 'Two for £5' deal during lunchtimes and from 6pm until 7pm for anything from the menu.

It is a family orientated inn with a kids' menu which has free ice creams with a main course.

Paul said: 'We stock puddings but we just don't sell any, people are usually too full to eat them after the main course.'

The pub is host to many sporting activities. There are two euchre teams, one is top of its division and the second team has just been promoted. There are two darts teams and three skittles teams, although there is no alley. The teams are the Market Men, the Market Maids and the Marketeers. Two pool teams will be starting soon, it is hoped.

The Market Inn sponsors the St Cleer football team. The people of the pub are also sponsoring a boy representing the South West under-11s football team overseas. They have held meat raffles and auctions and made donations. The British Legion also meets at The Market Inn once a month.

Well-behaved dogs are allowed in the bar area and smoking is permitted at the bar - but no smoking or dogs are allowed in the restaurant.

Vic Beresford from Rosecraddock Mill is a regular customer at The Market Inn. He said: 'I'm not as regular as I used to be, I've been coming in here for 49 years and now about two or three times a week.'

Vic joked: 'It's a short enough distance to be able to stumble home!'

Accompanying Vic was a local who wished to remain un-named. He said: 'I come in occasionally, well, every day! Coming in here for a drink breaks up the day.'

Scott and Natalie Banks were on holiday in the area from Hertfordshire. Natalie said: 'We've come back again because we liked it when we came here yesterday.'

Scott agreed: 'It's got a nice friendly atmosphere and great food.'

George Wilkins said: 'I'm a regular in here, practically every day. I usually just pop in for a drink and a chat with friends. I have been coming here on and off since we first moved here six years ago.'

There is live music every Friday night, which will hopefully extend into Saturday night. Quiz nights are held on Sunday.

The inn is holding a pub carnival day at the end of August to coincide with the St Cleer carnival day. There will be live entertainment, a barbecue, bouncy castle and lots more.