The Star Inn, Penzance

Situated just off the main town square, The Star Inn is an 18th century granite built small locals pub. The main bar on the left is dark with low beams and is well decorated with lifeboat and tin mining memorabilia. The latter reminds us that we are in former tin mining heartland - Geevor Tin Mine ( the last working mine which closed in 1990 and is now a museum ) is but a few miles away. Flags on the ceiling, including one with The Isle of Man "three legs" emblem, add further character to the interior. A fruit machine and a jukebox are concessions to modern trends, but there's also a piano. A basic room on the right is rather bare, somewhat brighter and contains a dartboard. Notably, a splendid inglenook in this bar has had some built in seats added underneath - looks unusual, but very cosy. There's an outside smoking area in the back yard. Entertainment is offered in the form of weekly music and open mic nights. It's a St Austell's Brewery pub and, on my recent visit, was offering Proper Job, Tribute, HSD and Dartmoor Best ( the latter is not to be confused with the products of a separate Dartmoor Brewery ) together with a guest beer from Skinners. The Proper Job - £ 2.70p - was pretty good. This pub is not tourist orientated at all - there's no food - and it makes a pleasant change from most other pubs in the vicinity, where food and catering for visitors seems to dominate. This pub is well worth a visit if passing through.

Situated just off the town square, The Star is a stone-built, medium sized inn of some character, with its two rooms set either side of the corridor entrance. The left hand room features an L-shaped bar, is low ceilinged and has an almost conspiratorial cosiness from the dark wood panelled walls and painted floor. Flags on the ceiling are united by a Celtic theme and there’s plenty of mining and fishing memorabilia dotted about, reflecting local history. Also present are a jukebox, upright piano and real fire. The right hand room looks to have been two smaller rooms originally and is a little sparser, by comparison, despite the wood panelled ceiling, stone flagged floor and large, original fireplace to the rear. For some reason there are two dartboards as well as an overhead TV. Outside, an area to the rear is covered with tarpaulin and features two picnic tables, primarily for smokers I’d imagine. There’s another picnic table and a bench in front of the pub. Five beers from the St Austell range were available: HSD, Black Prince, Tribute, Tinner’s and Proper Job. Quality of our BP and PJ was excellent and the pub more than deserves its Good Beer Guide entry. The barman that served us was quietly welcoming and smoothly efficient. A gentle, relaxed atmosphere when we called late afternoon, with a friendly air about the place. Holidaymakers seemed to mix well with locals enjoying an after work reviver and several conversations were struck up. I could quite happily have stayed until closing time, but unfortunately the demands of family life said otherwise. Probably my favourite Cornish pub to date. Recommended.

A 17th century stone pub in the heart of one of Cornwalls major tin mining areas, the Star today relies more on tourist traffic but thankfully it has not sold out to the camping and caravan brigade and still has much of the same feel that would have greeted the miners of yesteryear. The dark interior would be enough to make any miner feel at home with dark walls strewn with many old photos reflecting the area's industrial past. Groups of miners jostle for position among the lifeboats, fishermen and other oddities including a St Just v Playmouth Argyle programme from 1955. The ceiling contains a set of flags that bring a splash of colour to the darkness and an upright piano stands next to the glowing open brick fireplace which gets the occasional prod from anyone within reach. The locals were welcoming and and chatty although it was a lunchtime stop for us and the place wasn't particularly busy. A second room to the right of the main entrance contains a darts area and a kitchen to the rear. Next to the kitchen is what appeared to be an old stone fireplace with small kiln oven that has interestingly been converted into some unusual seating. In the corridor between the 2 bars are some historical artifacts including a rendition of the St Just Prayer from 1650 whereby the local priest prayed that there would be no shipwrecks but if there were, that they be for the benefit of St Just! It seems that raiding the beaches for spilt contraband has long been a community activity! The ales are from the St Austell range (Tinners / Tribute / IPA on my visit) and the fact that we only popped in for a quick pint and stayed for 3 says a lot. Well worth the stop.

Brilliant place. Excellent ale especially the HSD. Two rooms, one very quiet the other - the one with the bar - is decorated in a nautical style and can get noisy. Has live music some nights. The place can get crowded but that just proves how good it is. For my money this is the best pub in town & one of my favourite five in the world. No parking on site but near town centre free car park.