The top pubs to have a pint in Cornwall
- Daniel Bates
- 1 day ago
- 18 min read
Cornwall is one of my favourite places in England to have a beer in. There are a lot of historic pubs in really old buildings and not only that, the ales are excellent and the staff love to have a banter with ya. I have been to Cornwall several times and keep going back there but on this post are my favourites from the county and I am pretty sure I will add on more in the near future.
No one could possibly accuse Tintagel of underplaying the historical connection with King Arthur, allegedly born in this Cornish town, after all there’s a King Arthur’s bookshop and a King Arthur’s bistro. I suppose it’s no great surprise then to find a pub bearing his name. The King Arthurs Arms is situated on the main street and is apparently the oldest pub in this Cornish coastal town. That’s not the great accolade it might seem, there only appear to be four.
It’s a stone building with what looks like a later extension tacked on to the left hand side. The main porch entrance leads into the main bar area where a curved counter serves an area that extends back quite a long way, creating a roomier feel than we might initially expect. There’s some exposed stonework, dark beams, a large inglenook fireplace, carpeting and several areas where tables and chairs are laid out to maximise seating for diners. However, it’s not purely a pub for holidaymakers as stools by the bar counter are favoured by locals. It’s a somewhat functional and unremarkable chain pub interior, but one that, based on my several visits while based in Tintagel, appears reasonably successful at catering for both holidaymakers and locals under the same roof.
Alongside the standard (well, for Cornwall anyway) range of Tribute and Doom Bar, the pub offers beers from the local Tintagel Brewery, all were fine enjoyable pints. Staff appeared notably keen and enthusiastic and happy to chat to visitors about the area’s attractions. Totally loved this pub and would come back again.
One of Cornwall’s oldest and most famous Inns, favourite haunt of locals, fishermen, artists and tourists all year round. Believed to date from around 1312 AD, the Sloop Inn is situated right on the harbour front at St Ives with only a cobbled forecourt and road separating it from the sea. Love this bar, great range of ales, great staff and mind those low beams inside.
Lying at the heart of Porthleven, the most southerly port in Britain, this harbourside hotel, known to locals as the Commercial after its former name, affords pleasant views over the harbour of this small fishing port. I love the location, slap bang on the harbour, decent range of ales and a very calm atmosphere inside.
The Star Inn, St Just
St. Just's oldest inn, built of granite with a slate roof, and reputedly the lodging of John Wesley. The beamed and atmospheric main bar is full of interest, depicting a long association with tin mining and the sea. Flags of the Celtic nations adorn the beamed ceilings, and pictures with a mining theme on the walls. Floors are variously slate-flagged or bitumen covered. In this drinkers' pub, most of the entertainment is essentially conversation - the locals are always ready to spin a yarn or two! Because of this, this makes it one of my favourite pubs in Cornwall. The locals and barman were very witty and talkative and made me very welcome.
This is a traditional Grade II listed 17th century village pub with a rather rambling beamed interior spread over three levels. The bar areas are decorated with photos of old local scenes and miscellaneous bric-a-brac with two wood-burner fires during the winter months. The Star is a true community pub at the centre of village activities where there is always something going on. Love this bar, great range of ales, great staff and love the location of this pub. Right in the heart of the village.
This friendly town centre pub has been established since at least 1841 and is thought to have formed part of the offices of the Union Castle shipping line. The comfortable and roomy single bar with its open beams and slate floors is characterful, with numerous nautical artefacts depicting the past, and stained glass windows at the front. Love this bar, great range of ales, great staff and mind those low beams inside.
Built as a private residence, this building was converted into The Green Parrot in c1977. The old house stood in wooded grounds and was originally named Pentrig House, from the Cornish meaning ‘end of the sea’ or ‘low tide’. In the late 1890s and early 1900s, it was the home of Joseph Teague, ‘Capt. & Hon. Major’ in the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, Perranporth. Tucked away 50m off the road across a large car park (look behind the Tywarnhale), this fully-refurbished pub was reopened towards the end of 2010 as a branch of J D Wetherspoons; unusually for them, it retains its old name as the story behind it is so original. Largely to the standard JDW format, it is a former gentlemen's residence and is long, linear and spacious with a marble-top bar, and an upstairs bar provides for extra capacity during the summer or for private functions. The pub is a short level walk to the local golden sandy beaches and surfing; car parking is pay-and-display for this reason.
With a touch of the Aussie about it, The Watering Hole is the only bar actually on the beach in the UK. That’s right, it is really on the sand. You cannot get closer than that. This place really is living the dream. Literally. Beach, food, drink. No lugging a picnic bag across the sand with your arms already full of bodyboards and windbreaks. It started in 1978 as a shack owned by a man called Bill who moved ‘down under’ to Byron Bay, leaving the shack in the capable hands of one Bob Job (seriously) who transformed it. Over time, it became an accepted bar/restaurant. It’s one of those stories which feels like a myth but really happened.
What can you get here? Real ales from local breweries, amazing hot chocolates, right in the sand dunes and despite it being a no-frills operation, the food is great, too, with light bites and snacks, just the kind of food that’s beach-ready. An amazing spot for a weekend roast on the coast, it is also friendly for vegetarians and gluten-free. Obviously, given its location, it has a chilled, relaxed vibe. Surfers with sandy feet, children, dogs, and views to die for over the beach mean it’s all about the location.
This large, friendly one-bar village pub on the old A30 was once a coaching inn, which with its two attached toll cottages now forms the pub. A single well-stocked bar faces the entrance with the main restaurant area to the right, a smaller relaxed/eating area to the left. With a flagstone floor and low wood-beamed ceiling, the pub offers a welcoming and friendly atmosphere. Was made very welcome by the staff, loved the decor of this traditional Cornish inn and had a great range of ales and lagers on offer. Happy days.
Established in 1791, the popular town centre Inn was built to provide refreshments for the trading village of ‘Copperhouse’, which developed around the Cornish Copper Company’s famous foundry on the east side of Hayle. From this foundry, Isambard Kingdom Brunel ordered the chain links for his Clifton Suspension Bridge, and beam engines were dispatched around the world, from Mexico to South Africa. Thirsty work, which made the Copper House Inn the popular watering hole it has been ever since. Was made very welcome by the landlord, love the decor of this traditional Cornish inn and had a great range of ales and lagers on offer. Even had sports on the tele. Happy days.
For 150 years the Cornubia has stood within the heart of Hayle. The building is grade two listed and was built by local brewer Christopher Ellis in 1867 and has hosted many formal functions in its history, including shareholder assemblies for the Cornish Copper Company. The sale of the Copperhouse Foundry's assets took place here in 1875 after the company's commercial failure. It is said that the Cornubia was named either after the Copperhouse built "Cornubia" - the first working locomotive to be designed and built in Cornwall by the C.C.C. especially for the newly completed Hayle railway line in 1838, or, after the Harvey & Co.'s Hayle built steam packet "SS Cornubia" - which was commissioned in 1858 and famed as a blockade-runner for the confederate states in the American civil war. On the main road out of town, nice friendly staff and locals and a great range of beers.
There are several stories surrounding the origin of the inn’s unusual name. The first relates to a former landlord who pulled the bucket from his well expecting water but instead found it full of blood. On investigation, it was said that the well contained the mutilated corpse of a local smuggler. It is more likely, however, that the well contained red water due to run-off from the local tin mining but the inn has retained the grisly name ever since. Until 1980, the premises was known as the New Inn, a name that first appears during the late 18th century when Robert Winn was the tenant. It’s thought the pub was purposely built as an inn to serve the local mining community by one of the mining companies operating in the area.I totally love this pub (inn). I got a thing about really old pubs in Cornwall and this is one at the top of my list. Loved the atmosphere, the humour by the barmaid, the local dog at the bar (see photo) and the range of ales. Will defo come back here.
This 14th-century inn at the top of the town is converted from an old mill mentioned in the Domesday Book, in an area very popular with tourists - there is still a fine overshot waterwheel next to the pub. Inside, the inn is comfortably divided into three distinct areas on separate levels, with slate flagstone floors and low beamed ceilings. Outside is a pleasant large patio/garden area, facing south, with seating and large parasols for use in the summer. The pub serves locally sourced food - locally home made dishes or locally caught fish which is normally available throughout the year. The buses to Looe, Liskeard and Plymouth turn round just across from the pub, and in summer you can catch an electric milk float 'tram' down through Coombe to the harbour (about 15min or 700m downhill walk). Children and pets are welcome.
A Mysterious Figure And A Ghostly Chat: Although only an inn since 1972, the attractive group of buildings comprising the complex now known as The Crumplehorn Inn are far older, and have had ample opportunity to acquire a few otherworldly residents. In the bar, for example, witnesses speak of an indistinct 'something' glimpsed out of the corner of the eye, but which has apparently disappeared when they turn to look at it. Late one Sunday night a barmaid had turned the lights off at the end of her shift and was walking past the toilet when suddenly the door creaked wide open. Thinking she had locked someone in, she shouted an apology, only to be left gazing in disbelief as the door promptly closed again. Mystified, she went to investigate, but found that the toilet was empty. The inn's former owner, Andrew Taylor, has encountered the wraiths that haunt the inn on several occasions.
The 16th Century Mill House: The inn's former owner, Andrew Taylor was situated in the 16th-century mill house. One morning he awoke to see someone standing in front of the mirror, holding a cigarette and clasping their hand to their forehead "as though they had a really bad headache.” Thinking it must be his wife, Ann, he asked if she was all right. But then he saw that Ann was still in bed beside him - and when he looked back towards the mirror the figure had gone. Andrew said that he was uncertain whether the mysterious figure was associated with the other phenomena that he and Ann had experienced. Sometimes, lying in bed late at night, they would hear the voices of a man and woman whispering in the loft above them. On one occasion they even heard the sound of a door latching, although there is no door in the loft!
The Soldier And His Lady-Love. Ann, who sadly died in 1994, was very psychic and formed the impression that the male voice belonged to a World War One soldier who had deserted and was hiding in the loft of the old mill. The female voice was that of his lady-love. Eventually he was captured and sent back to the front where he was killed in the trenches; but it seems that every so often the revenants of the two lovers return to the place where they shared their last moments together.
Friendly pub having a large bar with wood panelling on the walls and ceiling, a lower sunny room, and a few tables outside on a suntrap patio by the river. The pub has a vaguely nautical theme and the wooden walls, wall lamps and partly-tiled, partly-carpeted interior gives the feeling of being below deck. Not a bad little pub, and a good selection of ales on offer.
The Three Pilchards dates back to the mid 18th century which makes it the oldest of the village's public houses. This is a traditional pub with low beamed ceilings (horse brasses attached) and dark walls, in a narrow street near the quay. There is a single L-shaped bar room, carpeted near the door with the remainder of the floor slate-flagged. A small outside drinking patio on two levels at the rear is reached via a steep, narrow & demanding climb of many steps, which affords a high-level view over the rooftops of the town.
The Italian Brothers: A long time ago, two Italian brothers arrived at this beautiful little pub, which had been built in the early 16th century. Polperro was then famed far and wide for the abundance of its pilchards and the two brothers had journeyed from their native land intending to make a killing by exporting the tasty fish back to their homeland.
In those days, so the story goes, there were three pilchard factories in the village, and the brothers wanted to sample the wares of each, in order to decide which supplied the best produce. In consequence, the pub became known as the "Three Pilchards", under which name it still operates today.
Well, that's one story that accounts for the name. Another, less romantic explanation, holds that the pub was simply named for the proximity of the three pilchard factories. Ghosts At The Three Pilchards: Its name aside, the pub can claim several resident revenants to help add a little chill to your visit. A persistent story holds that, at some stage in the 19th century, an irascible landlord over-imbed, and beat his unfortunate wife to death. Ever since, the sounds of a ferocious struggle, accompanied by the anguished cries and screams of a ghostly woman, are, from time to time, said to emanate from the pub's second floor where the dreadful events of the tragedy unfolded all those years ago.
In the same family for over 150 years, this large pub close to the Bude canal boasts a spacious grassed beer garden. The pub is the 'home' of the local lifeboat crew, and displays many shipwreck memorabilia. We came here for a Sunday roast and it was top nosh. Great quantity and value for money. As it was summer season, the staff managed to get us a table of four and gave us great service. A truly great pub.
A beautiful old 18th century building set within stone built stables and courtyard and restaurant. The pub, which is almost the living room in size, has old wooden beams in (I believe original) and is so small inside that you can't help but feel the need to hold a conversation with everyone inside. Very very friendly and serve lovely beer/lager - you feel you walk in as a stranger and walk out with friends. A nice feel to this place with a lot of character inside and lots of old photographs of the local area. Good selection of local ales here.
The New Inn - Goonhavern near Newquay and Perranporth
This is a large old pub at the crossroads in the village centre. The building dates from around 300 years ago and was believed to have been a coaching house or hunting lodge; it became a pub in 1871. It has low ceilings, a spacious outdoor area for summer barbecues, and a large car park. Food is a large part of the pub's operation, sourcing ingredients from local farms and suppliers. We had a fantastic curry meal with wine and beers and the food with the service provided was top notch! Don’t forget that there is Annie at the pub and she is the resident ghost.
A former 13th-century thatched cottage, this has been a characterful pub since 1912, and is en route to a beautiful sandy beach. The low-beamed interior adds to its cosy feel and friendly atmosphere. Whilst I was here on a beautiful Spring day, I had my pint in the spacious beer garden which is especially popular in summer with the holiday trade. Another top notch pub with great service.
The Smugglers Den Inn is a 16th Century thatched inn with private dining facilities, a Victorian terrace, beer garden, children's play area and ample parking. Discover for yourself a place that the locals know about, but don't always tell you. Here is a destination dining pub well worth seeking out. Tucked away in the picturesque hamlet of Trebellan near Cubert, this delightful country pub is a real sight for sore eyes. A traditional bar with roaring log fire keeps thirsts quenched. They have a wonderful selection of local ales & wines, whilst a separate restaurant awaits with fantastic local produce served to focus on classic British dishes. I had a wonderful Sunday roast dinner here and I totally love the surroundings of this pub. Great service as well and were very helpful when my five year old daughter decided to lock herself in the toilet and couldn’t get out.
Wood panelled bar with wooden beams and laminated floor. There is a separate entrance for the hotel that has rooms overlooking the beach. The outside drinking area is a large patio overlooking the beach and offering panoramic views. Great place to go for a drink whilst the rest of the family are chilling out on the beach.
Situated on West Pentire Head and with panoramic views overlooking Crantock Bay and beach, the Bowgie offers impressive views from most areas via picture windows and an extensive outside decked area. Largely modernised and open plan, it has a bar offering a wide range of local ales, real cider and selected wines. Me and my family had amazing service, great cask ale and loved looking out to sea whilst eating. This is a must for anyone checking out the Newquay area.
Picture-postcard, partly thatched pub by the church lychgate, steeped in smuggling history and close to a safe sandy beach, camping and caravan sites. Although it appears to be centuries old, the pub was once a tearoom, after all the licensed premises in the village closed following a Methodist campaign. Named after the last man-o'-war to be built on the banks of the nearby River Gannel, it claims a long history of smuggling through secret tunnels. Fantastic service, great range of drinks and loving the history.
Situated in St Columb Minor close to Newquay on the beautiful Cornish coast, the pub offers excellent cooked food, real ales and great hospitality. Seriously, me and the family only stopped here for a quick swift half and landed up having our evening meal here. I had the best rack of ribs in a long time! And if you are a family on a budget when it comes to eating out, this place is high up the list in the Newquay area. The children’s meals were excellent quality, quantity and priced. The range of drinks here are excellent and the barman who served us was very friendly. We were so glad to stop here.
At the top of a rather hilly town, this open-plan pub should suit most tastes. A former smithy, its rambling open-plan interior follows a fairly traditional format, although it has an unusual bar ceiling. Mainly a locals' watering hole, it is also popular with walkers, and is said to have a ghost, which swings one of the miner's lamps. A collection of shoes and clogs adorns one of the bar walls; the late comedian Tommy Cooper donated a pair of his size 14s. We had a lunch here, great price, great food, great service and a great range of drinks on offer here. Totally recommend a drink here.
Set in the iconic Trevaunance Cove, St Agnes, The Driftwood Spars is a brewpub. Trevaunance is the main beach at St Agnes, a best kept secret, with Trevellas Cove also not far away. The brewery there was founded in 2000, making gluten-free and many vegan craft beers, which you can also buy online. One of the most popular is Alfie’s Revenge, a red ale named after a stuffed red squirrel which used to live in the bar! It is a true Cornish coastal pub just a stone’s throw away from the cove. With epic sea views, parking, and the brewery, which offers tours, there is plenty to enjoy right at this superb spot.
This is another pub with a real sense of history. The Spars were giant driftwood beams salvaged from shipwrecks in the 1650s, used as an integral part of the building, which started as a tin mining warehouse as befits its location. Later, it became a chandlery, sail making loft and fish cellar. In the beer garden is the Crib Shack, a converted shipping container made into a casual eating spot. Perfect for alcoholic and soft drinks, hot chocolates and coffees, ice creams, cakes, sandwiches, and of course, doggy ice creams.
Fantastic pub, again, top service, great drinks they do here from the brewery and after a tipple here, I was spending a lot of money in the brewery to take their beers home to try. I was so happy to find this pub and brewery.
This is a spacious, busy open-plan pub and hotel with open beams, distinct drinking areas and a separate dining room although bar meals are available; the pub offers a good range of food, which is an important part of the entire operation and the food here is fantastic! There are several hand pumps dispensing the St. Austell ales. A small patio to the rear which overlooks St Mary's harbour and a new balcony with glass wind-breaks affords panoramic views over the harbour. A good pub for beer and conversation, and family-friendly although children are not encouraged after 21:00. Fantastic place to come for drinks and food. Service was excellent.
WHAT A PUB! Busy, boisterous and popular with locals and tourists alike, this old granite pub by the quay is the first one you come to when leaving the Scillonian ferry from Penzance. The main bar, which usually has 'background' music playing, is crammed with maritime bric-à-brac including flags covering the ceiling, lighting from bulbs screwed into hanging ships' wheels, and assorted souvenirs of the Scillonian gig rowing and fishing traditions. The pub has a separate restaurant upstairs, with a refurbished cellar bar/restaurant downstairs called the Slip Inn. Top notch pub, great ales and great staff. Defo gotta have a pint here before boarding the ferry back to the English mainland!
Overall
So there you have it guys, my favourite pubs which I wanted to check out with you and I hope you do when visiting this amazing part of the country. Will be back shortly and hopefully more pubs will be added to this list.
Post updated: April 2025
Essential information on Cornwall
How to get to Cornwall: There are plenty of airports in South England, ranging from Cardiff, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Newquay, however most visitors to the UK will pass through one of London’s airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, City, Southend and then take public transport of drive a rental car to Cornwall. The first place I would go to find airline tickets to the city is using (I would recommend) Skyscanner to find flights as that is my first point of call. Then if necessary use the airlines directly to find a good deal. I sometimes use Momondo as well to compare prices before booking.
By train from London, visitors will need Great Western trains out of London Paddington station and will stop at various Cornish stations such as St Austell, Truro, Penzance. However with Cornwall away from the main train line, it is best to get a car rental as Cornwall is very rural and public transport with buses is limited.
Car Rentals - as I do a lot of road trips around the world, I use Rentalcars.com which is very reliable for booking car hire in advance. I also use Turo (the airbnb of car rentals) and never had a problem with them. The cars are insured, owners vetted and never had an issue.
Accommodation: There are a lot of accommodation options and a lot of websites which can do some great deals. My first point of call is always Booking.com and can offer a range of hostels, hotels, campsites, apartments, guesthouses and bed and breakfasts.. After that I always have a look through AirBnb and Vrbo for great deals on apartments and other lodgings especially when traveling as a family.
Currency: England uses the British Pound. Currency can be exchanged at the airports and train stations (for a huge fee) so I would recommend either going to a currency exchange place downtown, to a bank (if they have good rates) or if you got a good bank account with fantastic exchange rates, then use an ATM machine (may incur a small fee but I always do this option as I got good bank accounts). A great website I use to compare currency exchange rates is XE, which gives people up to date information.
Language: England uses the English language and is used all over the country. Just to point out there are many dialects and other languages like Cornish-Gaelic used in the country but everyone who speaks English will understand other dialects from other regions.
Travel insurance: This is essential to anywhere you go in the world. I always carry travel insurance. Having travel insurance will cover you from theft, illness and those annoying cancellations which can happen on the road. Safety Wing offers coverage for a lot of adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and so forth.
Need a visa for the UK? Always check if you need a visa when coming to the United Kingdom. Since leaving the European Union because of BrExit in January 2020, visa rules apply for those coming from the European Union.
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