AS honest, traditional, family-run pubs go, The Golden Bowler is up there with the best.

With it’s own interesting history and a family committed to providing an excellent service for their local community, the Stubbington watering hole is well-loved by the locals.

The same family has run the pub for nearly 30 years, since Noel and Mary Pearce bought it in 1980. When they retired three years ago, their daughter and son-in-law Georgina and Kevin Cross took it on.

On top of this, three-quarters of the staff have worked there for at least five years – including chef Darren James, who has cooked the pub meals for 25 years, and barmaid Jenny Roach, who has clocked up 24 years.

“We had always wanted to run our own business,” said Georgina. “Mum and dad were in their 70s and looking to retire, so it worked out well.”

As far as they know, it is the only Golden Bowler in Great Britain.

The pub was originally built in 1920 as a private residence for local landowner Isaac Hammond.

It was sold in 1966 to the Clift family. The head of the family was a former RAF pilot who purchased the building with his retirement fund, known as the Golden Bowler – and so the building was renamed.

The Clifts ran the Golden Bowler as a private members club before turning it into a pub and restaurant in the mid 1970s and then selling it to Mr and Mrs Pearce.

Georgina said: “It’s still a family and community focused pub and we serve proper home cooked food. We cater for a lot of local groups and we are one of the only pubs in the area with easy disabled facilities, with a ramp and a full disabled toilet.”

Among the groups to meet regularly at the pub are an embroidery club, Scrabble club, Rover car club, football clubs, the local guide dog branch, and the Crofton Amateur Dramatic Society.

The Golden Bowler has actively supported Guide Dogs for the Blind for more than 30 years and has raised more than £40,000 for the charity.

Kevin said: “It’s a mature pub. That doesn’t mean to say we don’t get young drinkers in here, it’s just got a mature attitude. Our customers range from 18 to 100.”

The Golden Bowler, which is run day-to-day by manager Helen Sillence, also sells four real ales on tap, three of which change regularly, and has a popular meat draw every Friday evening.

lucy clark The Golden Bowler, 122 Stubbington Lane, Stubbington. Tel 01329 662845.