World's first pub-based polo team to impress 'woman down the road'

BRITAIN’S ‘grumpiest landlord’ has spent the past two years putting together the world’s first pub polo team - all in a bid to impress a woman who lives down the road.

- BY BETHIA WYBORN

Steve Cotten, 66, landlord of The Poltimore Arms on the outskirts of South Molton, has created the Yarde Down Polo Club, an unconventional club made up of punters who simply qualify by ordering a drink at the bar.

Their first team which played at a tournament last year had a combined age of 280 years, but as the team has grown to nearly 40 members, Steve said people of all ages and abilities have joined.

Steve, who is also legally blind, admitted he started the team with one reason in mind.

“It's everyday that I've got something strange in my mind. The only reason I'll do any of these things is to impress the woman down the road and then things get out of hand, I think ‘what can I do to impress her now?’” he said.