Cornish village pub is pillar of community

FOCUS IS ON SUSTAINING RESTAURANT BUSINESS

- MAXINE DENTON

TUCKED away on the outskirts of a tiny village in south-east Cornwall is a hidden gem of a pub which has become well-known for its good food and its quintessential country charm.

The Crooked Inn, located in Trematon, near Saltash, has been a pillar of the community for over 35 years, but the history of the site it occupies traces back even further.

It was built on the former gardeners' cottages of Stoketon Manor House, which was one of the homes of the Rashleigh family. They had their own quay on the River Lynher and a tennis court in the woods above the river.

The manor house, along with 10 acres of surrounding land, was bought by Sandra and Tony Arnold around 40 years ago. However, it was severely damaged by a fire in 1984, and the couple decided to try to auction off the land.

When no one expressed an interest, Tony, a civil engineer, and Sandra, a licensee from London, decided to build a pub in its place instead. From there, the foundations for what would become The Crooked Inn were laid.