Admiral Benbow, Penzance

I was really looking forward to getting back in here after a 15 year gap. However, everything went pear-shaped. Stood at the empty bar. Joined by another punter. Woman turns-up flustered, ignores us, pours drinks for the diners, heads-off. Another punter joins the queue. She re-appears and still fails to acknowledge our presence. At this point I was fuming because of the lack of basic courtesy so I huffed and walked out. Cask offerings, for the record, were 2x Treen beers and Proper Job. Normally I wouldn’t score but the customer service was so bad I feel compelled to. April 2009 If you let your colour-blind mad aunt design a pub for the tourists by the seaside, this is a pretty close approximation to what you'd get. The place has gaudy tat everywhere - and I really do mean everywhere, that bloody anchor on the left hand side of the bar would bother Lynn Faulds-Wood's ghost. I am assured that most of the tat comes from salvage from shipwrecks from the past 400-odd years. It's so stupidly over-the-top it sort of works in the same weird way attempting to drink yourself sober does. Only Doombar on when I went in (though there looks to be capacity for at least one other) which was served well enough. Food is also available, though I didn't sample as we'd already been to the Turks. Take a moment to have a go on the proper old jukebox which plays 7" singles. Very cute indeed, so perhaps a good place to take Granny as nearly all the singles are pre-1975. The (fictional) Admiral Benbow is world-renowned for its appearance in Treasure Island by RL Stevenson. Note that this pub isn't actually 'it'. Overall, worth popping for the brain-melting array of colour, artefacts and getting a couple of tracks on the old jukebox. Rated 7

I didn't explore much further than the bar area, and I found even that inundated with various bits and bobs. The bar itself offered a couple from Treens Brewery as well as ProperJob. A couple of interesting lagers in the shape of Flensburger and Spaten made a change from the norm, and Camden Pale provided the craft keg option. Food is available from an extensive menu and a booking isn't essential but be prepared to sit at an unsuitably low table if you do chance it. I'd be happy to return, but probably not for a meal unless I could get a proper table.

Official site of Admiral Benbow - www.thebenbow.com

Official site of Admiral Benbow - www.thebenbow.com