Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Disappointment of the week with Real Ale Ray
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by john mcgraw
Submitted on Monday, 7th October 2019
With picture contributions to 21062 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (9 more images)
Detail Pages
The Union Hotel, Penzance
Penzance
TR18 4AE
Served areas
Reviews of The Union Hotel (Average Rating: 4½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Union Hotel
Today this seems to be a plush modern hotel bar. The Nelson figure still greets you as you enter but I'm not sure about all the other stuff listed in detail below.
It's a roughly square room split into various areas. There are some exposed stone walls and a plush carpet. I came here on a Wednesday afternoon so there was no live music just a rather naff 70s soundtrack.
The bar has two hand pumps which had Tribute and Doom Bore. I went for the Tribute which was completely rank and changed for the Doom Bore which was better but not brilliant.
I wouldn't return here.
On 25th June 2018
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about Union Hotel
This 17th Century Hotel, originally known as the Ship & Castle, has certainly had an interesting past. Much of the original building was destroyed in a Spainsh raid in 1595 and remnants of the subsequent fire can still be traced in the exposed stonework in what is now the main bar (it is probably more obvious to a forensic scientist though). At one time, the Hotel boasted one of the country's oldest theatres (remnants including the stage still remain within the building's structure although the theatre itself closed in the 1820's). There is still a theatre bar tucked away in the rear of the building with several old theatre posters but this section appears to be used primarily for functions and special occasions. The pub's big claim to fame is that during a ball in 1805, the local mayor became the first person to publically proclaim victory at the Battle of Trafalgar and the subsequent death of Nelson (although I have heard that Falmouth also claims to have been the first town to have received the news). As a result, the hotel plays on its Nelson theme quite heavily with a lifesize model greeting you as you enter the main door, articles about the battle of Trafalgar (which includes a comprehensive list of official casualties) and several battle scene pictures. The main bar is also named the Nelson bar in his honour whilst the main restaurant honours Lady Hamilton.
Whilst the history may be impressive, the pub falls short in other areas. The interior still has plenty to admire; impressive fireplaces, original stone work, old beams etc, but it is let down by its obvious attempts to attract the sort of customer base who probably have little or no appreciation of the building or its history in the first place. The main gripe is the music which was on the whole geared towards the younger crowds. There is something that feels so wrong about sitting next to the wonderful fireplace, wallowing in great naval battle scenes and soaking up the building's past whilst listening to rap music! The live music was pretty intrusive and on a Saturday night you can expect a band slap bang in the middle of the main bar. The beer selection also is not particularly exciting – 2 ales (Bass & Sharpes Own) albeit perfectly acceptable quality. The rear section between the Nelson Bar and the restaurant seems a bit out of character to the rest of the building and you get the impression that the place should be so much better than it is. That said, it is certainly worth a quick pint merely for its historic interest but probably best done away from peak times when hopefully the ambience is a bit more fitting for the building.
On 7th April 2009
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
No known official website for this pub.
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Union Hotel - whatpub.com
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : Yes last updated 22 February 2018 by john mcgraw
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 24 June 2018 by Aqualung .
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 24 June 2018 by Aqualung .
- Beer Garden : No last updated 24 June 2018 by Aqualung .
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 24 June 2018 by Aqualung .
- Car Park : Yes last updated 24 June 2018 by Aqualung .
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 24 June 2018 by Aqualung .
- Darts : No last updated 24 June 2018 by Aqualung .
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 24 June 2018 by Aqualung .
- Function Room : No last updated 24 June 2018 by Aqualung .
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 24 June 2018 by Aqualung .
- Jukebox : No last updated 24 June 2018 by Aqualung .
- Karaoke : No last updated 24 June 2018 by Aqualung .
- Live Music : Yes last updated 24 June 2018 by Aqualung .
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 24 June 2018 by Aqualung .
- Micropub : No last updated 24 June 2018 by Aqualung .
- Pinball : No last updated 24 June 2018 by Aqualung .
- Pool Table : No last updated 24 June 2018 by Aqualung .
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 24 June 2018 by Aqualung .
- Real Cider : No last updated 24 June 2018 by Aqualung .
- Wheelchair Access : No last updated 24 June 2018 by Aqualung .
- WiFi : Yes last updated 24 June 2018 by Aqualung .
