Inn & Still, Helston

A terraced pub, with beer garden. The exterior has a central entrance flanked by sash windows, with two bow indows on the upper storey. The frontage is in a coffee colour, with some blue paintwork. The interior is an large open plan room, now the former rooms have been knocked into one. The mainly grey walls are broken by a few bits of mixed art. There is a DJ area, a dart area at the back, sofas and whicker seats in the several sub-areas. The service was very friendly and there was a mixed clientele. There were TVs, with the BBC on and the music was charty stuff. Beer; usual tap stuff with Fullers London pride, Tribute and an OK Caledonian Fruit Beer on handpull. A one-size-fits-all kind of place, but worth a pop in.

Formerly known as the Fitzsimmons Arms (after Bob Fitzsimmons, Helston's famous 19th century boxing champion) the pub has undergone a rather unsympathetic refurbishment and name change since I was last in Helston which was many years ago. The interior consists of 2 long narrow buildings that have been knocked through but large remnants of retaining walls and pillars make each side of the pub distinct. There are few worthy features that catch the attention, a fireplace and stove at one end and a few remaning snippets and pictures that remain from the benefactor of the pub's previous name. To the right of the entrance is a pool area with DJ booth so it's not hard to see what the target customer base is. The bar area is very bland and nondescript with a bank of fruit machines to the rear and the customary plasma TV. The side away from the bar has little in the way of seating and is geared more for stand up groups and there is also a fairly attractive patio to the rear but generally there is little attempt to utilize much of the buildings intrinsic character, or what is left of it. On the positive side, there are 3 ales (Doom bar, Speckled Hen and Theakstons Best) at below average prices and of decent quality (Mrs B also had a very good inexpensive coffee for what it's worth). One word of warming if you decide to stay for a few, the floors are a bit uneven in places so watch your step! The Seven Stars will have an appeal to a certain age group but with the Blue Anchor down the road, it is obvious where the discerning pub goer will be heading.