The couple behind the bar at a Falmouth pub closing to potentially make way for development say they are very sad to go but thanked all their customers for their support.

Boslowick Inn landlord Steve Perry said it was the end of an era for he and his wife Susan as they left their home of 14 years, but they were looking forward to retirement, adding: "It's a relief because I am 67 years old."

The pub closed its doors to customers for final last time last Saturday and there is now an outline planning application with Cornwall Council to demolish the building and for ten houses to be built on the site.

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Steve said the last five years had been an emotional rollercoaster, with a few failed attempts to sell both the lease and then the owners to sell the building.

He acknowledged that the pub had been struggling even before Covid hit, and praised his staff, saying: "I don't deny it was difficult. Staff have stayed loyal to the end. A good bunch of people we have been blessed with over the years, the majority of whom have found alternative employment."

The pub closed last Saturday

The pub closed last Saturday

Steve and Susan took the pub on back in 2007 as a retirement project and lived upstairs during their 14 years there, but they have always had another property "just in case" and are now going to live in Truro.

"I would just say a big thank you to everyone. We've had some great loyal supporters over the years, we've had some great events here, lots of lovely memories and we have had a lot of people wishing us well, which we appreciate. It's the end of an era for us," said Steve.

"I was 20 years in pubs and am now looking forward to retirement. We're only in Truro so we'll be staying in touch. We've had to take it on the chin but we're bigger and better."

A poem on the bar talks of the end of an era

A poem on the bar talks of the 'end of an era'

He said one of the biggest sadnesses would be if the pub was demolished as suggested, adding: "It'd be a real shame if they lose the building, it's a beautiful house. I know it's not listed but there have been umpteen surveys in here, including English Heritage, and they told my wife that unfortunately there were not enough original features to save the house if planning was agreed.

"But it would be a shame because after all it was our home for 14 years, as well as a focal point for an awful lot of people especially in the Boslowick area. It would be a crying shame."