IT'S a brave man who takes on a pub in the current economic gloom.

People may want to drown their sorrows, but can they afford it?

David Cook who, with his partner Carly Hales, is refurbishing the Shipwright's Arms in Ringmore, has no doubt he will succeed.

The hostelry used to be one of the most popular in the village, but closed suddenly about two years ago.

Now Mr Cook is busy spending around £25,000 on renovations to make it a traditional village pub again, and reckons: 'People will always want to go to a pub, and it is up to us to get it right and make ours the best. I am very confident we will make it a good pub again,

FULL STORY IN OUR ONLINE EDITION