COMPUTERS are there wherever you turn – and now you can use one while enjoying a pint in the pub.First there were internet cafés, but in Woodbridge they have a newly established internet pub.

COMPUTERS are there wherever you turn – and now you can use one while enjoying a pint in the pub.

First there were internet cafés, but in Woodbridge they have a newly established internet pub.

Sheila and Geoff Ford, new tenants at the Cherry Tree Inn in Cumberland Street, are behind the idea.

Having taken over the 17th century pub in January they are brimming with new ideas for the place.

So, around four weeks ago, regulars were surprised to see that a computer was sitting in the corner of the pub.

Geoff had even modified an old split top table to hide the computer from view, leaving just the monitor and keyboard in view.

Sheila said: "Geoff would find that when he was away on business, he would need access to a computer.

"We thought that there must be other people in this position as well and set up a computer in here."

The computer has only been in place for about four weeks, but already the word is spreading and a few people are starting to use it.

As Sheila is also a part-time computer lecturer at Suffolk College, setting up technology in the pub was the ideal thing to make her feel at home.

They even take lunch orders by e-mail so food can be ready and waiting for the customers when they come in.

But they are not just catering for the more technologically minded as the new chess board is proving more than popular.

Sheila said: "When people come into the pub it is nice for them to be able to play games.

"Usually you just get dominoes and cards in a pub and we wanted to give them something different."

The chance to play chess over a pint has proved so popular that a second board is now on standby as so many people want to play.

Sheila said: "It would be nice if we could get a chess club up and running eventually."

This is the first time that 49-year-old Sheila and 50-year-old Geoff have run a pub but it was always something they wanted to do.

The ideas just keep coming and one more for the very distant future is to turn the old stables in the pub grounds into accommodation.

Sheila said: "We are always having people in here asking if we do rooms and at the moment we don't.

"But it is just a thought at the moment."

nPrices to use the internet and e-mail are £3 for 30 minutes and £5 for one hour.

To use Microsoft Office as well costs £6 for 30 minutes and £10 for one hour.