The new hosts of the popular Norway Inn, Perranarworthal have had a very successful first Christmas in charge thanks to their previous business skills as well as the "team effort" of all their staff.

Charlie Edgeler, 50, and Carole Slingo, 42, were both once managers in Barclays Bank before moving into the brewery trade as publicans of the George and Dragon, Ightham, Kent.

They employed their people skills to good effect there for three years before falling in love with Cornwall and moving permanently to their home in Polperro.

This meant that it was "goodbye" to commuting in London and "hello" to the more leisurely crossings over the Fowey ferry to their new jobs.

Although running a busy pub and restaurant is a big commitment they enjoy their rest days back home in Polperro where they have many friends and are part of the community - which they are also quickly achieving at the Norway Inn and nearby Perranwell village.

The Inn takes its name from the Norwegian ships which used to bring timber to the Cornish mines and would anchor at the nearby Perran Wharf.

"The last few days leading up to New Year's Eve have all been as brisk as busy Sundays," said Charlie, referring to the surge in trade at the pub over the Christmas period.

"We're lucky, and very happy here," added Carole. "This is our home and we welcome our customers as such."

With future planning very much on their minds at the moment, the couple are already gearing up for next Christmas, taking bookings well in advance.

They have also advertised theme nights for the forthcoming months, including one celebrating St Piran's Day.

There are also plans to open the pub at other times during the day.

"We never turn customers away," says Charlie, who has two children Fiona, 22 and Robert, 19, both studying at university.

Charlie and Carole stepped in as temporary managers of the pub back in October when former landlords, Neville and Enid Andrews were transferred to another St Austell Brewery pub, The Rashleigh Arms in Charlestown.

"An opportunity arose that we were offered the pub to run full time," said Charlie.

"We thought about it quite deeply, but it's a lovely pub and the staff are good, which swayed us to take on the challenge."

He and Carole join a well-established team led by head chef Alan Poole and restaurant manager Rod Gill.

And rather than make any radical changes to the place, Carole and Charlie have been keen to enhance some of the best features of the eighteenth century building, including giving life back to a central fire place that has been dormant for 25 years.