THE Bullers Arms, in East Looe, takes the name of the Buller family who once inhabited the Morval Estate, and were generous benefactors of the town. It is also situated in Buller Street, and the pub has a copy of the Buller family tree.

Quaint and low ceilinged, with original flag stone floors, The Bullers hails back to the 16th/17th centuries, and as far as anyone knows, it has always been a pub.

It is a very sociable hostelry, and given its long history it's not surprising it has a sprinkling of ghosts. Apparently the front of the pub, where you enter by coming down some small stone steps, is the oldest part, and in the corner, which is hidden from the long bar, it is possible on occasions to pick up some faint whisperings of conversations, as if a group of people are still sitting at their table, enjoying the atmosphere, and drinking their favourite tipple of long ago!

Alison Moody, who has been the licensee for about 18 months, says she sometimes 'feels' and hears the ghosts when she is locking up, and says she believes they are sitting where the original fireplace used to be. Many of her customers have also heard the invisible visitors.

Known as Ally to everyone, Alison worked as one of the bar staff for about five years, before taking on the licence. The pub, a free house, is actually owned by Stevan Beresford and Kitty Jennings, who live in Fowey, where they also have a gift shop. 'We have a very good local trade' says Ally, 'and we have regular visitors who come back to us each year when they are on holiday'. To prove the point, many of the low black beams are covered in dozens of signatures. Living at the pub with Ally is her partner, Rob Dewe, who works at Marine Projects in Plymouth. She says she really enjoys her job because The Bullers is a place full of laughter and good mates, and most important of all it is a traditional pub. 'We don't sell food, just good real ales' she says.

But The Bullers does have an unusual delicacy on the menu just once a month on a Friday - maggots! Given that the pub regulars are known for having a wacky sense of humour, the suggestion by fisherman Chris Dominic that they should start 'maggot racing' was thought a splendid idea. He set about making a 10 lane track along which the variously coloured maggots wiggle, but unfortunately, for the last one home, it has to be eaten by its owner. Apparently the green ones taste the worst. Not a game for the squeamish, but as the money raised is for the Looe lifeboat, there is no shortage of punters.

Not 'into' maggots is lunchtime regular Colin Raddy, who runs Raddy's photography shop further along the street. 'I'm a vegetarian so I can't run the risk of being last in the racing' he laughs. He is however, full of praise for his local. 'There arn't many 'real' pubs left' he says.

More proof of the pub's humour with a difference, is the indoor beach party. Everyone turns up in the appropriate clothing and about two tons of sand is emptied over the floor, on which is a paddling pool and a specially devised volley ball match is played.

The regulars also once had a Viking Day. They made a boat through which their legs fitted and went on a rampage through the streets, pillaging other pubs and taking hostages. When asked if there was a specific purpose for this unusual practice the reply was that everyone just decided to have some fun.

Also on a certain Sunday in June, the nearest one to Ally's birthday, the customers hire a bus and have a day out visiting the pubs in Newquay and St Ives, just for a change!

A more traditional form of pub entertainment takes place regularly on Monday nights, when it is the turn of the popular quizzes. They are organised by Dave Merrifield, who born and bred in the town describes himself as a 'proper' Looe boy. He is normally the quiz master, although the questions are set by the winning team from the previous quiz. Landlady Ally lets the money raised mount up to a sizeable sum before it is given to a local charity. The Looe Youth Action Group received £600 last year and were then asked to nominate a charity to be the next beneficiary. They have chosen the Looe branch of St John Ambulance.

On Fridays and Saturdays it is the turn of live music, mainly duos and solo artistes, which commences from 9pm onwards and is very popular.

On Tuesdays, Wedne-sdays and Thursdays, the regulars just enjoy a good gossip with friends, washed down by the beer, the favourite of the three real ales on tap being Doonbar, which is brewed at Rock near Padstow.

Helping Ally behind the bar is Cris Woods, who as cellarman for the last three years knows how to keep the beer in top condition.

Originally from Manchester he is a United fan, but still managed to be disappointed when he missed a visit to the pub from former Nottingham Forest player Ian Woan. He is also a member of the pool team which plays in the 2nd division of the Polpentre League of which they are currently top and hoping for promotion to the top division next season. With only five games left to play all fingers are crossed!.

Also behind the bar is Mick, known to everyone in Looe as 'Mick The Brain' and for his very colourful T shirts.

He says he came on holiday about 30 years ago and liked Looe so much he didn't bother to go home again.

Apparently his nose was always stuck in a book at the time, and that was how he got his nickname which has been with him ever since. Also behind the bar are Chris Batchelor and Debbie Kimber.

Another regular with a nickname, is local Looe artist (just call me) Stiggy. His pen and ink style of landscapes and moorland are well thought of as are his handsome impressions of galleons, two of which belong to the pub's owners and hang on the walls. Ally has known Stiggy for 20 years and says she couldn't manage without him. 'If anything goes wrong, I can always call on Stiggy, he's part of the furniture' she says.

Regular Richard Batchelor, father of barman Chris, moved to Cornwall from Yorkshire about 22 years ago, and a former builder has now been a fisherman at Looe for the last seven years. He has his own handliner, the Norvik. 'I have found my niche in life and my local' he says. 'The beer is good, but the company is even better'.

As a fisherman he has no qualms about the maggot racing, but having won one race and come third in another, he wouldn't as yet, because he has not had to swallow one - so far!

Formerly a Porthleven resident, Sam King moved to Looe four years ago, The Bullers being the first pub she visited. 'I enjoyed the 'Bullers' own sense of humour' she said, 'so decided it would be my local. I have never been forced to have a drink but it would be the only way I would down a maggot' she laughs.

Perhaps the biggest sense of humour belongs to Jean Harper who moved to Looe from Torquay 15 years ago. A popular daily customer at the pub everyone enjoys her jokes. She also likes a laugh at her own expense.

She says she is 'unashamedly gay', and loves the social life at the pub. She is also not afraid of losing the maggot race and says she would quickly swish one down with the beer, or a nice swig of Tequila.

Also at The Bullers when the Cornish Times visited were Lynne Holman and Mia Reynolds with her son James. Lynne, who moved all the way from Liskeard to Looe two years ago says she is a regular at the pub because she enjoys the music and the good company, and Mia, a relative newcomer to the town says she has chosen

Bullers to be her local because it is so friendly and welcoming to all.