The Punchbowl & Ladle, Penelewey, Truro

A large detached country pub and restaurant, with extension at the back. The pub is in white painted rough stone, with a thatched roof with a couple of porches that also have their own thatched roof. It has sash windows and a large patio area, part covered by a large canopy, which bends around the pub. The pub claims that it is in part 15th century and was an inn by the 17th century. I can beleive it. The place looks really nice in summer, with hanging baskets and trellis. The interior - well it is a nesting of rooms of various sizes, from a large dining area, to a bar and several small loungey type snugs - something for eveyone i thought. At the back of the building is the massive dining room. It is in wood panel and some cream patterned wallpaper, with white and beam ceiling and carpet floor. An eclectic mix of tables and chairs, along with a few sofas cover the seating and there are some plates, old photos and prints on the walls. I didn't eat here so can't comment on that. The main bar is entered via the front doors on the photograph. It and the small snugs are generally in white painted stone and wood panel, with beam ceiling and adorned with prints and photos of all kind. The library snug has easy chairs, sofas and a red carpet, along with some books! The mid snug had a stone floor, with easy chairs. The main bar room is L-shaped and has a stone fireplace with a stove burner, with wooden implements on the walls. It is carpeted. The top snug has carpet and sailing pictures on the walls. It is an adventure just walking through. The music was easy listening and at a decent level. The service was fine and the clienetle a good mix of people, many outside enjoying the sun (written in August). Beer; the usual tap stuff with St Austell's Proper Job, Tribute, Trelawny and HSD - the last two being very good. A lovely country pub that you could enjoy inside and out with the right weather. Happy to have stopped off and happier still to pop back.

Have just come back from The Punch Bowl and Ladle for a birthday meal. I had sirloin on the bone and it was extremely dry, tough and grisley. My partner had the pork with apple and sage sauce which was bitter, dry and didnt resemble this at all. The mash potato was stoggy, thick and sickly. We were only able to eat half our meal and the waitress asked if everything was alright and we told her it was not one of the best meals we had ever had. She did not seem surprised. We never waited to try anything else, we just left. Sitting on the wall was something about one of the chefs having a michelin star. He must have moved on and forgotten to take it with him!!! Would not recommend to anybody.

I used to serve at this very famous old Inn many years ago, when it was a free house, and worked for three landlords, before leaving for Australia.The Inn then became a Devenish tied property,however Devenish Brewery latterly was taken over. I'm sure some of the old regulars still use the front bar.The building is very old and reputed to be 14th century,the front bar is still pretty much as it was from many years ago.Well worth a visit, and the food is great too.

I used to serve at this very famous old Inn many years ago, when it was a free house, and worked for three landlords, before leaving for Australia.The Inn then became a Devenish tied property,however Devenish Brewery latterly was taken over. I'm sure some of the old regulars still use the front bar.The building is very old and reputed to be 14th century,the front bar is still pretty much as it was from many years ago.Well worth a visit, and the food is great too.