Mason's Arms, Bodmin

Plain, grey-painted village pub with four hand pumps on the bar, featuring a cider and beers from Wadsworth, Sharps and Skinners. I went for Skinners Porthleven 4.8% (NBSS 3). Friendly bunch of locals gathered around the bar were welcoming to new customers and helpful to the young lad behind the bar, who was new to the job and almost completely untrained.

Dating from before Napoleonic times, this pub claims to be the oldest licensed premises in town. The lively and welcoming slate-flagged public bar provides pub games - darts and dominoes are played - whilst regular entertainment includes a quiz night on Tuesdays, and a folk night Fridays when the local folk club meet. The recently-extended lounge is quieter and preferred by locals seeking a more relaxed pint, whilst a function room is also available. There are always one or two interesting guest ales served in this friendly pub, with the emphasis on local breweries. The pub is near the Camel Trail. We enjoyed the Tintagel and Cottage beers and the friendliness of the landlord in here.