Cornwall locals trying to save their village pub in second homes haven

Portloe is one of the most picturesque villages in Cornwall. It's the epitome of the picture postcard fishing village every TV series producer salivates over, but things are awry. As CornwallLive has previously reported, the fishing village - where only two fishermen remain - is now a second homes paradise. In fact, such properties make up 83 per cent of the accommodation in the Roseland peninsula village.

That means the beating heart of every coastal village - the homely inn full of craggy Cornish accents - isn't quite what it was.

You'd think a quintessential Cornish pub which started off as a 17th century fisherman's cottage and even saw one of its landlords imprisoned for smuggling in the 1800s would be a draw for tourists. However, St Austell Brewery has decided to sell the Ship Inn and the locals, quite frankly, aren't having it.

Actually, they might be having it. So incensed and concerned are many people in the area that they have formed a community group to investigate taking it over themselves.

The current tenants, Jarrad Hussey and Nick Coxall, will continue running the pub until it is sold. Jarrad told us that helming the Ship over the past two years has been a struggle due to the high number of second homes and holiday lets in the village.

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A spokesperson for St Austell Brewery said: "Our business partners Nick and Jarrad have decided to move on, and after much consideration, we are now looking to pass on the ownership of this wonderful pub. This presents a fantastic opportunity for someone to acquire a well-loved building with great potential for future success as a freehold.

"Nick and Jarrad have been great business partners and have kindly agreed to keep the doors open while we seek the ideal buyer."

With only the Lugger Hotel down the road from the pub, locals were shocked into action when they realised Portloe could lose the Ship Inn forever. They fear that whoever buys the building may turn it into yet another property that's only lived in for a few weeks a year.

A meeting held in nearby Veryan on December 30 resolved that a working group be set up to investigate possible community ownership. Veryan Parish Council has now sent off to Cornwall Council the intention of the community's bid.

A parish meeting heard this week that the community group will now have to register as a charity or community interest company. The group, which has seven members, has already had its first meeting and is taking advice from the Plunkett Foundation, a charity which helps rural communities create and run their own businesses. There will be a further public meeting to discuss the options available for the group, when all residents of the parish will be able to have their say.

Parish council chairman Luke Dunstone said: "The feeling in Portloe is that people really want to proceed with this. I've not heard anyone talk about it in a negative way. It's exciting because I think it might be a chance to revitalise the village."

Speaking to residents of Portloe and the surrounding area, it is clear that they would all back a community takeover.

"It would be awful if the pub was lost - we've lost lots of things in the village over the years including the tearooms," said one, while another local added: "The village is closing down. If there is no village pub, tourists won't come."

Alison Moreland, who lives in the area, told us: "Unfortunately I think the prices pubs have to charge these days, particularly if they have to pay rent to St Austell and being a tied house, does put people off a bit. If it becomes a free house that might keep costs down and benefit local people."

A number of locals said they would like the idea of what a village pub is to be reinvented, so they wouldn't just have to buy an alcoholic drink or a meal. Perhaps it should have more of a café atmosphere where people can play board games and use it as a community centre.

"It's right next to the coast path so people will come up to grab a sandwich or a takeaway even," said Pip Churchill.

There was hardly anyone about when I visited Portloe this week, which is certainly not unusual. Though one man who strode past me said: "It would be a great shame if we lose it." While two elderly cousins said the pub did actually close for a few months in between landlords and it was "greatly missed".

With B&B rooms and a large beer garden on the opposite side of the road, the Ship Inn is certainly a draw and it could be resurrected if the people of the Roseland decide to take it on themselves.