King Arthurs Arms, Tintagel

best pub in Tintagel. At least four real ales on - the best of which were from the local Tintagel Brewery. Quality Ale. Food was good and service excellent. Typical pub fayre but very well done. 50p pool table!

A rather average pub, opened out inside to fill with the tourists and very averagely decorated. If Wetherspoons were doing pubs when this was built this is what it would look like! There is a rather surly landlord. Although in the Good Beer Guide, my beer was far to warm for my taste & all togherther I would not rush back here. It is opposite the beautiful NT post office.

No one could possibly accuse Tintagel of underplaying the historical connection with King Arthur, allegedly born in this Cornish town – after all there’s a King Arthur’s bookshop and a King Arthur’s bistro. I suppose it’s no great surprise then to find a pub bearing his name, but pleasingly, there’s no King Arthur theme inside – no signs of replica soldiers with swords and coats of armour etc, nor any framed magazine articles claiming this was his local…etc. The King Arthurs Arms is situated on the main street in Tintagel and is apparently the oldest pub in this Cornish coastal town. That’s not the great accolade it might seem – there only appear to be four. It’s a stone building with what looks like a later extension tacked on to the left hand side. The main porch entrance leads into the main bar area where a curved counter serves an area that extends back quite a long way, creating a roomier feel than we might initially expect. There’s some exposed stonework, dark beams, a large inglenook fireplace ( over which is an extensive pub grub menu detailed on blackboards ), carpeting and several areas where tables and chairs are laid out to maximise seating for diners. However, it’s not purely a pub for holidaymakers as stools by the bar counter are favoured by locals. By the large fireplace is a snooker table. Several fruit machines around a central pillar complete the picture. It’s a somewhat functional and unremarkable chain pub interior, but one that, based on my several visits while based in Tintagel, appears reasonably successful at catering for both holidaymakers and locals under the same roof. A smaller separate more basic room on the left appears to be intended to cater for locals, but I didn’t see it being used much. In this room are some photos of the local Motorcycle Club and a fine St Austell Brewery mirror showing pub locations. The pub also offers Cornish cream teas all day, Cornish breakfasts etc and this “family pub”, as it promotes itself, is clearly trying to cover all the angles. Alongside the standard ( well, for Cornwall anyway ) range of Tribute and Doom Bar, the pub offers beers from the local Tintagel Brewery and both the Cornwalls Pride and Castle Gold were fine enjoyable pints. Staff appeared notably keen and enthusiastic and happy to chat to visitors about the area’s attractions. This pub is not a showstopper by any stretch of the imagination, but it kept me adequately fed and watered during my brief stay in Tintagel and I’d be happy to revisit if the opportunity arose.