The best pubs and bars in Cornwall
For further Cornwall inspiration, see our guides to the region's best hotels, restaurants, beaches, cream teas, things to do and how to plan the perfect holiday.
West Cornwall
Tinners Arms
The main bar at the Tinners Arms with its roaring fire is little changed from its origin as a dorm for the builders of the medieval church next door. It's a sociable pub, a mix of locals and visitors back from a sunset walk out to the headland (a 30-minute round-trip). There's a slew of real ales – Tinners or Mermaid are the beloved classics – and local handcrafted gins, including one made using rock samphire. The food is tasty farmhouse fare.
Blue Anchor Inn
There has been a working brewery at the Blue Anchor Inn for 600 years. Originally a resthouse for monks, the interior of this thatched, town-centre pub with its flagstone floors is full of character. Its most popular brew, Middle, a traditional sweet bitter, was originally made to welcome home soldiers from the First World War. It even has a skittle alley that hosts live music sessions on Thursdays. At the rear there's a large garden.
Halzephron Inn
Steeping in smuggling history, this medieval freehouse on a remote clifftop on the Lizard has the best sunset view in Cornwall. You can sit outside and bask in the last warm rays of the sun before it sets over Land's End. Inside there's a choice of cosy bars with high-backed chairs as well as separate dining room that serves traditional pub fare. Expect a good choice of Cornish beers on tap, plus local gins and vodkas. A short walk away is Church Cove which featured in the BBC's Poldark.
The Old Success Inn
The perfect place to grab a pint and watch the sun set into the Atlantic after stretching your legs on the clifftop walk to Land's End. Owned by St Austell Breweries, this historic pub has open fires in winter and outdoor seating with panoramic sea views in summer. There are 16 small batch brewed beers to cover all tastes from IPA to lager including a new AI-generated recipe called Hand Brewed by Robots.
The South Coast
The Shipwrights Arms
This lovely old waterside pub nearly closed a few years ago before the local community banded together to buy it. The main bar areas are low-beamed and cosy but the key reason to come here is to drink good beer or a local gin and tonic out on the terrace that is just feet from the water. This is a beautiful stretch of the Helford, one of those places that makes you feel that's all's well in the world. There's a good choice of comfort food too. Check the website for live music nights, usually a folk or jazz band.
Pandora Inn
This thatched pub has a gorgeous waterside setting in a creek off the River Fal with tables set out on a long pontoon jutting out into the water. Inside, there are old ship's timbers, low ceilings and flagstone floors. It's popular with locals and sailors who moor their boats alongside, and there's a good selection of St Austell ales, locally brewed lager and ciders, and a decent wine list with a wide choice of wines by the glass. As for food, picture a traditional pub menu, that's very well executed and based around locally sourced produce. The car park is small; park back up the road on summer evenings.
The Blue Peter Inn
Tucked away in the absurdly photogenic fishing village of Polperro, this is a Grade-I listed free house, rated for its well-kept beers from up-and-coming West Country breweries including the Cornish Crown, Otter, Bays and Fish Key brews. The chatty welcoming staff will also mix you a mean bloody Mary and, in winter, a mulled rum cider. There's live music every Friday and Saturday from March to November, usually local solo performers. It's a 10-minute stroll from the car park as no cars are allowed in the village centre.
The North Coast
Blue Bar, Porthtowan
On summer evenings surfers and families gather at picnic tables on the terrace overlooking this popular surfing beach to watch the sun set into the sea. Parking isn't a problem as there's a large car park nearby. Inside it's a large barn of a place but the friendly efficient crew run a tight ship. Order a pint of Sharp's Doom Bar ale brewed in Rock and a plate of spicy chilli nachos.
The Watering Hole
The Watering Hole claims to be the only bar that is actually on a beach in Britain and often finds itself in the paper after storms when it teeters on the edge of a sand cliff high above the sea. It sits on three-mile Perranporth Beach, which is a great place to watch the sun go down in a blaze of glory into the sea on a summer's evening, and it's one of the liveliest places for a drink on this coast. There's also a wide-ranging programme of regular live music and plenty of space to get up and dance.
The St Kew Inn
This 15th-century inn deep in the countryside near Port Isaac has a wonderful atmosphere, and food and drink to match. Fires crackle on winter days and in summer there is plenty of space in its garden. The ales are from the nearby St Austell Brewery, there's Cornish Rattler cider from Healeys Farm near Newquay and wines are sourced from Camel Valley vineyard down the road. The food has won awards, using local produce where possible and the Sunday roast is legendary.
How we choose
Every bar, venue or experience in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, who has visited to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from casual pubs to exquisite cocktail bars – to best suit every type of traveller – and consider the service, drinks, atmosphere and price in our recommendations. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations.
Gill Charlton is a regular writer in the Telegraph's travel pages. She has lived in Cornwall for 25 years and loves to walk along the coastal path and reward herself with a proper steak pasty and a pint of Betty Stogs ale.
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Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
National Trust shuts famous UK beach voted one of best in the world due to health and safety fears
Rangers have seen a spike in incidents during busy spells STAY AWAY National Trust shuts famous UK beach voted one of best in the world due to health and safety fears ONE of Britain's most jaw‑dropping beaches has been shut off without warning after safety bosses sounded the alarm over dangerous conditions. Pedn Vounder in Cornwall has been closed to the public by the National Trust amid mounting fears over rip currents, rockfall, and the treacherous cliff path down to the sand. 2 Pedn Vounder is ranked amongst the best beaches in the world Credit: Alamy The powder‑soft, turquoise‑water cove that regularly makes 'world's best' lists. Advertisement Barriers and warning signs have gone up, and rangers are urging visitors to stay away until further notice while they review how to make access safer. What's happened? The National Trust has closed public access to Pedn Vounder, near Treen on the far west Cornwall coast. The charity says the decision was taken on health and safety grounds after repeated incidents and concerns about the steep access route and rip currents. The closure is described as temporary while options to improve safety are explored. Where is Pedn Vounder - and why is it such a big deal? Tucked between Porthcurno and Logan Rock on the Penwith peninsula, Pedn Vounder looks like it's been lifted from the Caribbean: clear, shallow waters over pale sand, backed by dramatic granite cliffs. It's a wild beach - no lifeguards, no facilities, no road - and you only reach it via a rugged coastal path and a scramble down a rock face near low tide. That mix of beauty and danger is exactly why it's so famous and so fraught. Advertisement On a calm day, it's postcard‑perfect. When the Atlantic swell and tides turn, it can be unforgiving. Practical safety advice if you're heading to the coast Choose lifeguarded beaches and swim between the red and yellow flags. Check tide times before you set off. Many Cornish coves all but vanish at high tide. Beware sandbars. They can make the sea look shallow and calm, then disappear quickly as the tide turns. If in trouble in the water, float to live. Lie on your back, control your breathing, and raise an arm to signal for help. In an emergency, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. Why has it been closed now? The Trust's priority is the access route and sea conditions: The path: The descent is steep and uneven, with a scramble at the end. Erosion and slips have made sections more precarious, and there's no easy way back up if you get into difficulty. The descent is steep and uneven, with a scramble at the end. Erosion and slips have made sections more precarious, and there's no easy way back up if you get into difficulty. The sea: Pedn Vounder is notorious for powerful rip currents, fast‑flooding tides, and shifting sandbars that can catch even confident swimmers off guard. The beach is not lifeguarded. Pedn Vounder is notorious for powerful rip currents, fast‑flooding tides, and shifting sandbars that can catch even confident swimmers off guard. The beach is not lifeguarded. Rockfall risk: Cliffs along this stretch are constantly weathered by wind and waves. After periods of heavy rain and heat, the chance of loose material falling increases. Rangers have seen a spike in incidents during busy spells, and coastal rescue teams have repeatedly warned that people are being cut off by the tide or pulled into stronger water than they expect. Shutting the beach gives the Trust time to assess the path, improve signage, and consider whether access can be made safer without encouraging risky behaviour. Advertisement How long will it be closed? There's no fixed reopening date. The Trust says the beach will remain closed while they carry out assessments and work through possible solutions with partners. This is a protected landscape and any intervention has to balance public safety with the area's wild character. Expect updates once surveys are complete and any work is agreed. The UK's best beach revealed – its white sand and turquoise lagoons helped it beat Jamaica & Thailand Why Pedn Vounder keeps topping the charts The appeal is obvious. On a sunny day, the water glows blue‑green, there's a slice of reef‑sheltered shallows, and the cliffs create a natural amphitheatre that feels a world away from the nearest road. It's also known for a relaxed, clothing‑optional vibe in parts of the cove - another reason it grabs headlines. Advertisement Travel writers and social media feeds have hyped it as a 'must‑see' for years. That attention brings huge footfall to a place that was never designed for crowds, with many visitors unaware just how quickly conditions can shift on this exposed Atlantic corner. 2 If you're Cornwall‑bound, there's still plenty to enjoy. Pedn Vounder's closure is a wake‑up call. This slice of Cornish paradise is spectacular - and it's seriously hazardous when conditions line up. Advertisement The National Trust has taken a cautious approach, figuring out how to make access safer without damaging what makes the place special. If you're Cornwall‑bound, there's still plenty to enjoy. Choose lifeguarded beaches for swimming, respect the coast, and stay informed about official updates regarding Pedn Vounder. When it's safe to do so, those turquoise shallows and sweeping granite cliffs will still be there - but for now, the barriers are up for good reason.
Leader Live
3 days ago
- Leader Live
British artist hails importance of paint practice pioneered by Constable
Powell, 35, was so inspired by the colours and light on the archipelago off the Cornish coast during a visit in May that she packed much of her Dartmoor studio into a shipping container to relocate for the summer. That container, holding more than 100 litres of paint, canvases, her trusty wooden easel, ladder and chairs, as well as a large supply of PG Tips teabags and kettle, went by boat from Penzance to St Mary's island. The Liverpool-born artist then followed – painting so prolifically that she ran out of canvases and had to use local sailcloth and pieces of wood from a nearby town hall renovation instead. Her dedication to working en plein air – a term referring to the practice of painting entire pieces outdoors – follows that of landscape artist John Constable, who is said to have pioneered the approach in Britain in around 1813. Other notable artists who painted outdoors include Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Powell also highlighted the work of the Newlyn school – led by artists Stanhope Forbes and Frank Bramley – who settled in the Cornish fishing towns of Newlyn and St Ives in the 1880s. 'There is a long standing tradition of artists painting in St Ives and Penzance because of the light,' she said. 'I've always painted there but thought: 'What happens if I go to the Isles of Scilly? Surely the light is brighter there.' And it is. 'It's just another level of beautiful light here. Everything glows and is almost electric – it looks lit up from within.' Visitors are not permitted to bring cars onto the Isles of Scilly, so Powell and her two assistants use golf carts, bicycles with trailers and boats to travel around with her equipment. They carry a large wicker basket full of paints and brushes, her full-size wooden easel, and canvases measuring 150cm tall and wide. Sea water and sand unintentionally become part of the artworks as Powell works in all weathers, from storms with rain and lightning to bright sunshine, and at all times of day including in the pitch dark. 'It's a very normal thing when you're painting en plein air to have grass or similar on your pieces – you don't fight the elements,' she said. 'There is a transfer of energy from the elements, so if you're painting in a storm your work will pick up that energy in a brush stroke, mark-making way. 'That's why it's so important to be at the forefront and outside. Everything gets flatter indoors. Colours change really easily. 'If you're looking at something through a photograph or on a screen, it isn't the same. It is so much better to see it in real life.' Powell has transformed a former workshop at Salakee Farm on St Mary's island into a studio which is open to the public and filled with dozens of artworks, created since her arrival in early August. These range from floral pieces including 'teddy bear' sunflowers – famously painted by Van Gogh – to landscapes, wildlife including puffins painted on a boat safari, and harbour scenes around the islands. She has travelled across the five inhabited islands of Scilly, from St Mary's to Tresco, St Martin's, St Agnes and Bryher. 'Everything is much more wild so you really get to experience the elements and everything passes quickly, you can have five weathers in a day which is so good for painting,' the artist added. Powell is one of a growing number of people to visit the archipelago. The Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, which operates the Scillonian III passenger ferry as well as Skybus flights from Land's End, Newquay and Exeter airports, has seen a 4.9% increase on overall passenger figures compared to last year. There has also been a 10.4% increase in day trip bookings. Powell first painted en plein air at the age of seven, on a trip to the fishing village of Collioure in France, following the death of her father. She used his watercolour set and brushes to recreate Henri Matisse's 1905 piece 'View of Collioure (The Tower)' from her holiday flat's balcony. 'As we were grieving as a family, I taught myself to draw the church that Matisse had drawn and it genuinely made Mum so happy that I carried on,' Powell added. 'There is a hurry to enjoy my life, there is an urgency and a realisation that life is really short. I want to get it all down because I love painting so much. It's hard to think you only get a certain amount of time to do it.' Her previous work has included expeditions to the Hebrides and the Norwegian arctic, as well as her series The Greenhouse of Commons in which she painted politicians including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as plants.
North Wales Chronicle
3 days ago
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British artist hails importance of paint practice pioneered by Constable
Powell, 35, was so inspired by the colours and light on the archipelago off the Cornish coast during a visit in May that she packed much of her Dartmoor studio into a shipping container to relocate for the summer. That container, holding more than 100 litres of paint, canvases, her trusty wooden easel, ladder and chairs, as well as a large supply of PG Tips teabags and kettle, went by boat from Penzance to St Mary's island. The Liverpool-born artist then followed – painting so prolifically that she ran out of canvases and had to use local sailcloth and pieces of wood from a nearby town hall renovation instead. Her dedication to working en plein air – a term referring to the practice of painting entire pieces outdoors – follows that of landscape artist John Constable, who is said to have pioneered the approach in Britain in around 1813. Other notable artists who painted outdoors include Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Powell also highlighted the work of the Newlyn school – led by artists Stanhope Forbes and Frank Bramley – who settled in the Cornish fishing towns of Newlyn and St Ives in the 1880s. 'There is a long standing tradition of artists painting in St Ives and Penzance because of the light,' she said. 'I've always painted there but thought: 'What happens if I go to the Isles of Scilly? Surely the light is brighter there.' And it is. 'It's just another level of beautiful light here. Everything glows and is almost electric – it looks lit up from within.' Visitors are not permitted to bring cars onto the Isles of Scilly, so Powell and her two assistants use golf carts, bicycles with trailers and boats to travel around with her equipment. They carry a large wicker basket full of paints and brushes, her full-size wooden easel, and canvases measuring 150cm tall and wide. Sea water and sand unintentionally become part of the artworks as Powell works in all weathers, from storms with rain and lightning to bright sunshine, and at all times of day including in the pitch dark. 'It's a very normal thing when you're painting en plein air to have grass or similar on your pieces – you don't fight the elements,' she said. 'There is a transfer of energy from the elements, so if you're painting in a storm your work will pick up that energy in a brush stroke, mark-making way. 'That's why it's so important to be at the forefront and outside. Everything gets flatter indoors. Colours change really easily. 'If you're looking at something through a photograph or on a screen, it isn't the same. It is so much better to see it in real life.' Powell has transformed a former workshop at Salakee Farm on St Mary's island into a studio which is open to the public and filled with dozens of artworks, created since her arrival in early August. These range from floral pieces including 'teddy bear' sunflowers – famously painted by Van Gogh – to landscapes, wildlife including puffins painted on a boat safari, and harbour scenes around the islands. She has travelled across the five inhabited islands of Scilly, from St Mary's to Tresco, St Martin's, St Agnes and Bryher. 'Everything is much more wild so you really get to experience the elements and everything passes quickly, you can have five weathers in a day which is so good for painting,' the artist added. Powell is one of a growing number of people to visit the archipelago. The Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, which operates the Scillonian III passenger ferry as well as Skybus flights from Land's End, Newquay and Exeter airports, has seen a 4.9% increase on overall passenger figures compared to last year. There has also been a 10.4% increase in day trip bookings. Powell first painted en plein air at the age of seven, on a trip to the fishing village of Collioure in France, following the death of her father. She used his watercolour set and brushes to recreate Henri Matisse's 1905 piece 'View of Collioure (The Tower)' from her holiday flat's balcony. 'As we were grieving as a family, I taught myself to draw the church that Matisse had drawn and it genuinely made Mum so happy that I carried on,' Powell added. 'There is a hurry to enjoy my life, there is an urgency and a realisation that life is really short. I want to get it all down because I love painting so much. It's hard to think you only get a certain amount of time to do it.' Her previous work has included expeditions to the Hebrides and the Norwegian arctic, as well as her series The Greenhouse of Commons in which she painted politicians including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as plants.
