The Chain Locker, Falmouth

A good sized, prominent pub in the centre of Falmouth, it has plenty of outside seating on the quay with great views across the estuary and is cosy and atmospheric inside. Approaching from the steep side street, one has to duck down quite low to get through doors which have a couple of port holes inset in to them. Internally it’s an L shape pub and the L shaped bar counter has both a beer and a cider bar. There is much wood panelling around both on the ceiling and the walls and is perhaps intended to be reminiscent of a ship’s cabin, whilst flooring is a mixture of rough boards and slate tiles. Besides this there is much nautical memorabilia around such as plenty of photographs of old ship photographs, nautical charts, oars, life buoys, and of course the obligatory glass case containing a selection of knots as well as a collection of sea shells. There was a good choice of beers on tap which on this occasion were Admiral’s Ale, Skinners Betty Stogs and five from St Austell – HSD, Tribute, Trelawney, Proper Job and Cornish. Ciders were also well represented with Sandford Orchards Fanny’s Bramble, Healey’s Cornish Farmhouse Cyder, Thatcher’s Gold, Strongbow Cloudy Apple, Cornish Rattler, Orchard Pig Philosopher and Old Rosie. All in all a great pub, and certainly one of the best ones that we visited whilst in Falmouth.

Called into this pub as it is in the 2013 Good Beer Guide, and I had never visited it before. I enjoyed my Sharp's Special while sitting in the seating outside by the harbour. Lovely location. Also tried a soup from the varied menu. They are having a bit of an exterior refurbishment at the moment and I had difficulty finding it from the main street as the signs were down, but the entrance is down a side street or from the harbour front.

This pub has a couple of entrances. The main entrance is on the harbourside and has a patio. It is in Georgian style - irregular, with bay and sash windows and in white with black paintwork. The other entrance is a small terraced one with a neo-classic entrance. The interior has a large open plan room that sweeps around the serving bar. It is on a couple of levels. The walls are wood panel and white, with a mix of stone and wood flooring, as well as a wood ceiling. The walls and ceiling are festooned with nautical ephemera; from pictures to oars and flags. There is a nice stone fireplace too. There was no TV and no music. The service was great and the place was busy with a mixed clientele, some tourists like me! Beer; usual tap stuff with Sharpe's Doombar, Special and Panzerfaust (very good). as well as Skinners Cornish Knocker and Heligan's Honey on handpull. A great pub, deserving of its GBG status - a must do in Falmouth.

Really good pub! Great warm welcom, friendly staff. Excellent beer. Looking forward to my next visit. Cheers all!

The Chainlocker or The Chainlocker and Shipwrights as it is now known is an harbourside pub with a large sized outdoor seating area overlooking the harbour.The original pub sign states Est 1770 but according to the harbour commissioner the actual date is 1660.There used to be an old prison across the alley,which was built there to accomodate the numerous customers that the pub used to send across. The walls and ceilings are adorned with numerous nautical memorabilla and other various artefacts.The pub serves a good range of well kept beers and most nights was the pub was quite busy.