By
Editor
Updated on
Cornwall is an extremely popular destination for many during the holiday season.
And the reason is not just its well-known white sand beaches and mouth-watering delicacies like Cornish pasties. The British county also has an impressive selection of pubs that deserve a visit and can leave you with some very fond memories.
These pubs not only provide great spots for a drink, but are also excellent dining options which makes them perfect for spending time with family and friends. For first-time visitors, knowing which pubs are worth visiting can be a bit challenging, especially since the county has a whopping 627 pubs in total.
That’s why we decided to share this comprehensive guide listing some of the best ones to visit during your stay in Cornwall.
Best Pubs In Cornwall
1. Driftwood Spars, St. Agnes
Located at St. Agnes, Driftwood Spars is one of the most visited pubs in Cornwall, and with good reason. Besides offering a vast selection of drinks, it is known for its delicious food and comfortable bedrooms, which can provide visitors with a space to rest after a tiring journey.
Since it is situated near the beach, the view is also amazing and is further enhanced by the manner in which the bars are designed. The decor and furnishings include padded stools, tables of varying sizes, and a dark wooden interior, where you can find novelty items like memorabilia from shipwrecks, old prints, and more.
Additionally, there are several types of wines, rums, gins, and whiskies to try out, and this Cornish pub hosts multiple beer festivals, which is the best time to visit.
2. Polgooth Inn, St. Austell
If you’re fond of Cornish ales, then Polgooth Inn, located at St. Austell, is the best place to visit. It is a spacious pub with connected rooms, wood-burning stoves, large and cosy log fires, and dark beams that make for an extremely comfortable setting. Drinks can be enjoyed in farmhouse seats, dining chairs, or high-backed settles.
Apart from that, there is a modern wood burner which is complemented by French doors and opens onto the terrace. The lighting is also contemporary, perfect for enjoying a drink or for dining out with friends. Other noteworthy features include a kitchen garden where the owners grow various herbs, separate dining booths, and even picnic sets that are situated on the grass.
3. Old Coastguard, Mousehole
The Old Coastguard is a pub where you can find an outstanding combination of the most delicious food, an impressive wine selection, and a friendly atmosphere. What makes this pub unique is its garden, which includes seats and rock pools with dracaena and tropical palms.
Also, the interior decor is quite appealing, and you can find paintings depicting local scenes, sailing boats, and similar objects. This, along with the stripped floorboards and brightly coloured walls, help create an informal but highly comfortable atmosphere.
The restaurant and bar are situated on the upper deck, with pine, oak tables and antique chairs, while the lower floor has games, books, armchairs, and sofas. If you plan an overnight stay, there are also some cosy bedrooms that overlook the sea.
4. Pandora Inn, Restronguet, Near Falmouth
Located on the waterside, the Pandora Inn features flagstone rooms, which provide it with a mediaeval appearance. You can have your Sunday lunch at one of the picnic-table sets placed in front of the jetty, but make sure to arrive early to get a reservation.
The low-beamed rooms are interconnected and have three large fires along with built-in wall seats. Each room is decorated with ship wheels and oars, maps, pictures of yachts, and similar ornaments.
Besides regular lighting, the pub uses church candles to help create a calm, welcoming environment. You can also check out the back cabin, where a model galleon sits in a glass case, while the dining room is located upstairs. Food is available throughout the day, and there is provision for wheelchair access.
5. The Falcon, St. Mawgan
Serving as the traditional village pub since 1758, The Falcon at St. Mawgan is a stone building with a spacious garden and a fine selection of real ales. It has a large fireplace where a log fire burns continuously, and you can pick from cushioned wheelback chairs to farmhouse ones for seating purposes.
The friendly staff and attractive decor, including falcon pictures and antique prints, make this a very inviting place. One of the major attractions of this pub is a wishing well located in the garden, and the lawn has picnic sets in case you wish to sit outside.
6. Old Quay, Devoran, Near Truro
Excellent wines, real ales, and delicious food are all aspects that define Old Quay, a lively pub located near Truro. But the best thing about it is that it is situated at a distance of only 50 metres from Portreath and can even be easily visited by cyclists and walkers.
The bar is quite roomy and has wall settles, bar stools, and a comfortable window seat. Decorations include paintings by local artists, and you can sit at one of the large tables or on comfortable stools. For entertainment, board games and darts are available in another room, which is decorated with sailing pictures.
One of the attractive aspects about this pub is the view over the water, which can be enjoyed by sitting on the benches placed outside. Picnic sets are also placed on the back terraces, and there are two bedrooms which provide a great view.
7. Victoria Inn, Perranuthnoe
Victoria Inn at Perranuthnoe is best known for its high-quality food and impressive selection of local beers. It is a great place if you want to meet up with friends, and it has several cosy settings to sit and chat. The bar has an L-shaped design, a wood-burning stove, oak floors, and wooden tables, perfect for enjoying drinks with friends.
Other attractions include board games and background music, and a well-maintained garden with adequate seating arrangements. And you can even plan an overnight stay in one of the comfortable bedrooms. This pub is also a great place to stop by on your trip to the beaches of Mount’s Bay, which are located close by.
8. Blue Peter, Polperro
The Blue Peter Inn is among those pubs that can be visited by customers of all ages, and there is a special room located upstairs for families. It overlooks the harbour, providing an interesting view and has a collection of traditional furnishings that make the place comfortable and cosy.
These include wooden flooring, a polished pew with a winged settle, and a wooden bar counter, while decorative items include pictures and photographs by local artists and fishing regalia. Two window seats are also present to provide views over the harbour and the sea.
Additionally, some seats are placed on the terrace, and more are placed in a special area which has been designed to resemble an amphitheatre. You can pick from a wide selection of rums and gins while board games and background music are also staples of this pub.
9. The Crown, Lanlivery, Bodmin
A well-known, traditional pub, The Crown was established in the 12th Century and is a popular destination for both locals and visitors from outside. The long white house has a large fireplace with a wood-burning stove, with the wooden chairs and traditional settles enhancing the mediaeval atmosphere.
Old photographs adorn the walls of the main room, while other rooms have built-in pews and high-backed leather chairs. Games like darts are available, and the garden features picnic sets as well as a glass-topped well.
For overnight stays, there are bedrooms located in separate buildings that provide a great view of the garden. And it takes only ten minutes to reach The Eden Project from the pub by road.
10. Springer Spaniel, Treburley, Launceston
The Springer Spaniel is an easy-going pub established in the 18th century that has a friendly staff, offers the best food, and has a welcoming atmosphere. Its decor comprises shelves laden with books and pictures of springer spaniels, which prevent the main room from looking bland.
This pub has a wood-burning stove, while seating arrangements include country kitchen tables, chairs, and a high-backed settle. The star attractions are the different wines, homemade cocktails, and the finest gins.
You will need to go upstairs to visit the main restaurant, where there is another wood stove with the head of a stag mounted above. Similar furnishing is used for the dining room, which has additional bookcases and also uses candles to enhance the lighting, while picnic sets are placed in the paved, enclosed garden.
11. Rashleigh Inn, Polkerris
This beachside pub has a large terrace and a fantastic selection of local ales, so make sure to check it out when visiting Cornwall. You can stay inside the cosy rooms when visiting in winter and sit out on the terrace overlooking the bay in summer.
Cushioned chairs are placed around dark tables, while a log fire burns at the back, and local photographs adorn the walls. The tables provide a breathtaking view of the sea, which is among the topmost reasons why it is so popular.
As for the drinks, you can choose from nine different wines, two farm ciders, and even soft drinks that are completely organic. The pub even has its own car park, or you can use the village one located nearby.
There is a scenic beach with a restored jetty, which can be visited on foot, as can the local section of the South West Coast path.
12. Halsetown Inn, Halsetown, Near St Ives
Halsetown Inn is unlike most other pubs you may have visited, and the reason for that is the importance it places on environmental awareness. The owners utilise green energy and make recycling an integral process while ensuring local plantation owners, fishermen, and farmers get adequate returns.
The comfortable pub bar is a favourite among locals, despite the dining areas being furnished simply with wooden chairs, a wood-burning stove, and an old range. Fresh flowers, candles, and cushioned settles also make up the furnishings, while murals and artworks created by local artists are used for decoration.
Coming to the drinks, there are 12 malt whiskies, wines, and 35 gins, which you can enjoy on the front terrace in one of the picnic sets.
13. Trengilly Wartha, Constantine, Near Falmouth
Another highly-recommended pub is Trengilly Wartha, situated near Falmouth, which is most famous for its large gardens. Its main bar has a low-beamed ceiling and is furnished with several types of settles, chairs, and tables.
Cricket bats, team photos, and pump clips are used as decorations, and the drinks selection is among the finest in the area. Besides 11 gins and 80 malt whiskies, you can enjoy several types of wines, and there is even a warm and comfortable bistro along with a family room.
Bedrooms are available, with a cottage-like feel and are perfect for staying overnight. And if you want to stretch your legs, there are large gardens spread over six acres, with multiple picnic sites for resting. The nearby hillside even provides some great walking tracks close to the Helford river.
14. The Cobweb, Boscastle
Located near the village and the harbour, The Cobweb is a fantastic pub especially suited to host locals as well as visitors. It has two bars, both having several types of furniture, including carved chairs, settles, and more.
Jugs and bottles hang from the ceiling beams, along with photographs of previous years, while warm fires are maintained at the back. The pub has four real ales, which include St. Austell Tribute, Harbour Special, a guest beer, and Tintagel Cornwall’s Pride. Or you can check out the fantastic selection of malt whiskies and the local cider.
There are darts, a pool, and even a games machine for entertainment, while the restaurant is located upstairs if you’re craving some good food.
15. Turks Head, Penzance
Turks Head is a Cornish pub that has existed for over 700 years, though not much of the original building remains after the Spanish destroyed it in the 16th Century. It is especially famous for its food items, and some of the most popular ones include seafood tapas, barbecue-glazed chicken wings, and sandwiches.
The drinks selection is impressive and includes 12 malt whiskies, multiple gins, and 10 types of wines. As for the furnishing, the bar has pottery, jugs, and flat irons hanging from the beams, and tables are placed near wall seats for seating. The central pillars have built-in elbow rests, and you can even visit the suntrap back garden, where seats are located under a large parasol.
16. Halzephron Inn, Gunwalloe, Near Helston
Originally serving as a smugglers’ haunt, Halzephron Inn is a bustling pub with an amazing selection of local beers, delicious food, and fantastic walks. The dining and bar areas have an informal atmosphere, are well-maintained, and decorated with fishing memorabilia.
You can enjoy 41 different malt whiskies, summer farm ciders, and 9 types of wine. The dining gallery is quite spacious, with a seating capacity for 30 people while picnic sets are also placed outside, which overlook the countryside across National Trust Fields.
Similarly, there are cosy bedrooms providing a great view of the countryside, and the sandy beaches of Church Cove are located close by. Visitors can also take coastal walks, as the Gunwalloe fishing cove is situated just 300 metres away.
17. Shipwrights Arms, Helford
Located at Helford, Shipwrights Arms is a 17th-Century pub situated on the waterside with seats on the terrace that look down on the water. The thatched pub provides an incredible view of the wooded creek, and you can take a foot ferry or pontoon from Helford Passage to visit it.
Decorations follow a nautical theme, with boat wallpaper, artwork, ship models, and even figureheads. There are also cushioned window seats complemented by oak and pine furniture, while stools are placed next to the counter.
Drinks include local favourites like St. Austell Tribute, Skinners Porthleven, 14 types of wines and gins, and 26 types of rum. Moreover, you can enjoy all these next to an open fire in winter.
Final words
Any trip is incomplete without a visit to the best pubs in the area, and these are some of the options worth checking out when you visit Cornwall. While they may differ in their locations and setups, all of them offer excellent food, superb wines, and even comfortable lodging.
There are also quite a few options for those travelling with their families and children. Additionally, many of these pubs are located close to historical sites or offer scenic vistas, which can add to your experience.
So, make a list of the pubs you plan to visit and get ready for an exciting time!
About The Author
Reviewed by
Editor
Related Posts
[wp post shortcode here]
