The Harbour Inn, Padstow

A fairly unassuming but attractive looking pub just out of site of the harbour, it’s surprisingly big inside, extending back quite some way. It’s essentially a U-shape pub wrapped around a central bar counter, although this is only accessible from one side. The usual nautical accruements were dotted around such as a model sailing boat, a few oars, ship’s figurehead, ship’s lanterns, etc. I didn’t spot the display of knots in a glass case but I’m sure it must have been there somewhere. The main bar area is to the left and this consists of black tiling on the floor with a mixture of burnt orange paintwork on the upper part of the walls and a pale blue below. Seating here was large church pews along the wall with tables and chairs elsewhere. Beyond this at the rear was a pool table. At the front of the pub there is wood flooring and a couple of old leather sofa’s with a low table and a small brick fire-place with a wood-burning stove to the right. The right hand leg of the U had a beamed ceiling with dark wood panelling on the walls and looked as though it may have been more geared up for dining, although it was in darkness by the time we arrived fairly late on a Saturday evening. In fact the whole pub was surprisingly quiet, perhaps as it’s not yet high tourist season. Beers on tap were all from St. Austell with their Tribute, HSD and Dartmoor Best. Ciders were Strongbow and a trio from Cornish Rattler – Original, Pear and Berry.