With the sun shining and temperatures rising, many Brits will be looking to take advantage of the improved weather this weekend with a drink in hand - and where better to do so than along the 400-mile stretch of Cornwall coastline?
From Rick Stein's favourite watering hole to a pub currently in the running to be named the best in England, Cornwall has no shortage of spots to stop in and enjoy a nice, refreshing beverage.
And with popular breweries like Sharp's and St Austell right on the doorstep, along with chilled ciders and a range of home-grown gins, it's no wonder that Cornish locals are proud of their proper ales - and tend to turn their nose up at lager.
But where should you visit this weekend to enjoy the nice weather with your favourite pint? Here are some of the favourite spots around the county according to The Telegraph.
Watering Hole, Perranporth
The Watering Hole claims to be the only bar that is actually on a beach in Britain, and last year was crowned as having the best beer garden in the UK.
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 is also one of the liveliest places for a drink on this coast, according to The Telegraph. There’s also a wide-ranging programme of regular live music and plenty of space to get up and dance.
At the end of 2023, the pub announced that it had started work on a massive expansion project that it claimed would make it even more of a destination.
A new seated roof terrace, where food and drinks will be served, as well as a new upstairs bar and café, and public toilets, will ensure there is plenty more space for customers to enjoy a glorious summer sunset over the ocean.
The work is set to be carried out during the winter period, so as not to disrupt the busy summer season.
Peterville Inn, Saint Agnes
This award-winning pub, which has already taken home the gold in the Cornwall Tourism awards, and the silver in the South West Tourism awards, is now down to the final three to be named Pub of the Year in all of England.
Landlord and landlady Tom and Laura Trubshaw say they are "thrilled" to be representing the county in the Visit England Awards for Excellence, and that making it through to the final, set to be held in Liverpool in June, is "absolutely unbelievable".
The couple, who took on the pub in July 2020, said: "We are absolutely overwhelmed to have made the national finals, we had no idea in our wildest dreams this is something we would achieve."
The pub has a 4.5 out of 5 overall rating on Tripadvisor, where it is lauded for its "excellent roast and service," "great food" and "great atmosphere". On Facebook, it has garnered a rating of 4.7.
The Tinners Arms, Saint Ives
Originally used as a dorm for the builders of the medieval church next door, the main bar at the Tinners Arms, with its roaring fire, has changed very little over the years.
It’s a sociable pub, frequented by a mix of locals and visitors back from a sunset walk out to the headland (a 30-minute round-trip). The food is tasty farmhouse fare, and the favourite real ales on offer include Tinners or Mermaid, while local handcrafted gins, including one made using rock samphire, are also on the menu.
The pub has also been named as a favourite of celebrity chef, and Cornwall's adopted son, Rick Stein, who has a family home further up the coast in Padstow. When asked where he most enjoys sinking a pint, he replied: "I love The Tinners Arms at Zenno."
With a 4 out of 5-star rating on Tripadvisor, the Tinners Arms has been praised as a "perfect haven of great food and company", and a "welcoming lunch [stop] after a walk" - while one review described it as "how pubs used to be".
Halzephron Inn, Helston
Built in 1468, and steeped in smuggling history, the Halzephron Inn takes its name from the old Cornish phrase for 'Hell's Cliff' - and it is not difficult to imagine smugglers landing their contraband goods in the dead of night on the beach and cove below.
Set on a remote clifftop in the Lizard Peninsula, the medieval freehouse boasts one of the best sunset views in Cornwall. The building itself is rich with history, with many local wrecks having allegedly provided the timbers inside, while the bar counter is said to be hundreds of years old.
Meanwhile, the food served consists of "proper Cornish pub classics", from curries and chilli con carnes to fish and chips, chowder, or burgers. And while it's nothing fancy or overpriced, it has been described as "excellent".
With the pub also welcoming dogs, it is an overall "thoroughly enjoyable experience", and a perfect spot for all the family.
The Blue Peter Inn, Polperro
In a similar vein to the Halzephron, this Grade I listed building on the south coast of Cornwall was originally constructed as two smugglers' cottages in the quaint fishing village of Polperro.
It has gone through numerous transformations over the years, from a tearoom to a seafood restaurant, before opening as a pub in the 1960s.
Husband and wife team, Rob Hawke and Beck Steadman-Hawke have run The Blue Peter for over two decades, and have been instrumental in the pub winning several prestigious accolades over the years, including gold in the Taste of the West Awards in 2016, and silver in the Cornwall Tourism Awards in 2017/18.
The Blue Peter has retained much of its original character and charm, with low beamed ceilings, a cosy fireplace, and brass ornaments hanging on the walls. Like many other village pubs, it has become a hub of the community, where people can come together to share a pint over a catch-up or a hearty meal.
The pub now specialises in freshly caught seafood and a variety of meats from a locally based butcher and grazier. Everything is made using locally sourced produce and they also cater for vegetarians, vegans, and those with dietary requirements, including gluten-free dishes.
But the pub is perhaps most famous for its live music, with bands and solo artists performing regularly to encourage and promote up-and-coming artists on the local live music scene.
Pandora Inn, Restronguet
With its 'beer garden' stretched along a pontoon over the Carrick Roads estuary on the River Fal, The Pandora was last year named by The Times among the top 10 riverside pub gardens in the UK, in an article which described it as "the quintessential Cornish pub".
The Pandora Inn at Restronguet Hill, near Penryn, is located right on the river across the water from affluent Feock and is one of few locations where you can arrive in style by boat, bike, foot, or car before enjoying food and drink riverside - or inside by the log fire in winter.
It is also among the top 10 most booked restaurants in Cornwall, according to OpenTable, offering "lovely", local-sourced produce, such as the Catch of the Day, or the Pandora Fish Pie.
Rising Sun Inn, Truro
This gastropub boasts the title of being one of Truro's oldest pubs, having been sat on Mitchell Hill for over 200 years.
After being taken over by Tom and Katie Hannon 10 years ago, The Rising Sun has been transformed into an upmarket city pub - but with the same friendly environment and focus on community as a village watering hole.
Chef Tom, and designer Katie, have restored the building, while still preserving its historic character - including the traditional low-beamed ceilings, a roaring fireplace, and low-level lighting.
And their hard work has clearly paid off, having won them a number of prestigious accolades over the years. Among them include winning the best bar list at the 2021 Trencherman’s Awards and being crowned the best dining pub in the Taste of the West awards for 2018/19, as well as receiving nominations from several other foodie awards.
More recently, The Rising Sun took home the top prize for best food at the Punch Publican Awards 2023 and was given gold in the Taste of the West Awards.
The pub will soon also be offering a zero-waste menu, which will have two-course meals for just £18 as a way to both prevent food waste from their kitchen and suppliers and help customers save a bit of money.
Tom said: “We have the feel of a village pub, even though we’re in the middle of a city We’re not a big national company that’s just after people’s money - it’s just me, Katie, and our dog Hamish. We really care about our local community and giving back to them.”
