The Seven Stars, Falmouth

A prominent pub in the old town square, it’s not nearly as big inside as you might imagine from looking at the outside. According to the friendly landlady, parts of the building date from the 13th century, whilst it was converted to a pub in the 16th century. Prior to that it was a grain store with the right hand part being stables. The main bar runs along the front of the pub and is quite long and narrow. It has a very “unspoilt” appearance and I would think that it hasn’t seen a paint brush since the 60’s. This may not be to everyone’s taste of course; depending on your point of view you may describe it as tatty, but I thought it was a great example of a timeless old boozer. Some type of old lino was covering the floor, whilst painted wooden boards were on the walls in a mixture of pale yellow and maroon. The ceiling had nicotine stained wooden boards and a large collection of key rings, many hundreds probably, were strung up. A table made from an old rope drum was at one end and there were a number of nautical pictures on the walls including several of a sailing club. A couple of notices banned the use of mobile phones and to emphasis this point there were a number that had been nailed to the wall. There is also a small snug at the rear which looks to be a cosy spot. Most beers were dispensed from barrels racked up behind the bar and on this occasion included Dark Star Pale Ale, Sharp’s Special, Bass, Skinner’s Porthleven, Pressgang, Sharp’s Atlantic and something called Grandma’s Weapons Grade Ginger Beer. Ciders too were well represented with Thatcher’s Haze, Stowford Press, Hand Brake and Rosie’s Pig. All in all, a great pub and well worth checking out.

This down to earth pub is full of characters and prominently sited in front of a small square,is thought to be Falmouth's oldest pub,opening in the same year as Charles 11 restored the Monarchy.The pub has been in the same family since 1868 with the The Rev Barrington Bennetts the local Anglican Clergyman being behind the bar for the last 50 years until his death in 2011.As John Bonser described in his detailed account of the pub there was a sign high up at roof level that fell down during a storm and since yet to be replaced (The only evidence of the pubs name i saw was a small blackboard near the entrance with The Seven Stars chalked on). The unspoilt public bar had a late victorian shelf and wooden stillage from 1894,with beer being served from casks behind the bar,and the metal stillages being introduced in the late 1940's.In the ceiling of the back room,close to the spiral staircase there is a hatch where they brought the coffin down when someone had passed away in the upper floors,because the stairs were to narrow to handle a coffin. Although on my visit i found the pub a bit shabby and worn, certainly in the back room, realise it would not be everyones cup of tea but nevertheless certainly worth a visit.

Still a great basic traditional pub serving all its ales from the barrels behind the bar. Beer was great and the pub was busy on our Saturday lunchtime with locals and others passing by for a pint. The pub is undergoing a redecoration both inside and out so the rear saloon bar is full of ladders etc. Looks like they are also redecorating this room aswell. Hopefully this pub has still got a good future ahead.

Occupying a position on the edge of a large square in the town centre, close to the Falmouth Packet Boat memorial, is The Seven Stars, a basic no frills unspoilt locals pub, with a prominent Victorian - style frontage. The public bar at the front features wood panelled walls with fixed bench seating, an original bar counter and shelving and a real time warp feel to it. The bar top has a deceptive curve to it - so position your drink with care !. There's a collection of key fobs suspended from the ceiling. Mobile phones are banned - a point emphasised by one attached to the wall with a nail driven through it. The saloon bar at the rear ( note the glass in the door featuring seven blue stars ) is equally basic and has several notable plain glass large mirrors. This bar is serviced by a hatch at the side of the public bar in the corridor. The pub is listed in CAMRA's National Inventory of Heritage Pubs, the only such pub in Cornwall. The long pub name board up at roof level - see the photograph here - has gone ( came down in a storm apparently ) and a rather temporary looking white tarpaulin bearing the pub's name and draped along the outside railings lower down is the current replacement. There's no hanging pub sign. I'm a big fan of unspoilt, no frills pubs like this, but I'm afraid that this pub does feel somewhat run down and neglected. Some of the seat cushions and padded bar stools in the front bar are looking distinctly worn and dirty and, in the rear room, part of the ceiling appears to be missing. The exterior could also do with a lick of paint. Locals here are very friendly and a warm welcome is assured. This is a pub where conversation and beer ( or cider ) rule the roost. However, a degree of grubbiness means that it doesn't look desperately inviting from the outside and it is perhaps telling that, on two separate occasions, other visitors to Falmouth who I got into conversation with were people who, like myself, had specifically sought this pub out, as opposed to people dropping in by chance. Beers are served direct from the barrel, placed on metal stillages behind the public bar. On my recent visit, beers on were Bass, Sharps Special and Skinners Cornish Knocker. Bass is apparently a regular fixture and a cartoon in the bar dated October 2004 shows some glum looking customers bemoaning its absence on one particular occasion. Over 2 consecutive evenings, all 3 beers were found to be in excellent condition. Prices ranged from £ 3 to £ 3.10p. The pub is listed in the 2010 CAMRA Good Beer Guide. I do hope this pub can keep going. If you get the opportunity, do drop in, but watch the opening hours - despite its central location, it closes in the afternoon, even at weekends.

Called in as it is in the 2010 Good Beer Guide. There were 3 beers available from casks, Bass, a Sharps and a Skinners. Chose Sharps Special, but it had gone off and was exchanged for us. It is a National Inventory pub due to its interior.

This is a pub in a time warp not to be missed. Real Ale. Dogs welcome in back room but ensure you see main unspoilt bar.