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Top House, Helston

The Square
The Lizard
Postal town: Helston
TR12 7NQ
Phone: 01326290974

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Ian Mapp left this review about Top House

Nautical pub with nick nacks aplenty. The former landlord was quite the collector. Take time to read the stories in Lifeboat Corner.

The pub runs around a central bar. Friendly staff. Most people dining on our Sunday Lunch visit, us included. The roast was better than an average St Austell Proper Job, where the haze failed to clear.

Pleasant visit and an interesting pub.

On 23rd October 2023 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1338 recommendations about 1324 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Graham Coombs left this review about The Top House Inn

Medium-sized pub with a pleasant U-shaped bar and adjacent dining area, in centre of village which is a bit of a walk from Lizard Point. Popular with tourists, walkers and locals, with tables outside and accommodation available. Usual beers from St Austell in fair condition.

On 4th October 2018 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Soup Dragon left this review about The Top House

This is a nice Georgian styled pub, eatery and hotel, called the Lizard Hotel in the 70s and Hill's Hotel in 1908 (i love old maps). It carries a plaque in recognition that it was the terminus of the Helston - Lizard bus service, the first bus service operated by a railway company (the GWR) in 1903. THe accommodation is in a separate building behind the pub and there is a patio area. The pub remains unchanged in design since the Edwardian period, except that it is now in pink render (I can feel those Victorian gents wince). Interesting features inclue a double gabble end and a a nice front neo-classic porch. The interior is difficult to comment on as it was late when i popped in and most of what appeared to be a U-shaped room was in darkness; so all i could see was the bar area, which is in white and wood panel. There is a brick fireplace and lots of maritime pictures on the walls. There was no TV that i saw and no music was on. The service was really friendly and the locals at the bar chatty. Beer; usual tap stuff with Korev (St Austell lager) and St Austell Tribute, Proper Job, HSD and Dartmoor on handpull. I tried the Dartmoor, which was fine. A really enjoyable experience - just wish i had had longer and gone in on a Monday when the folk band are on.

On 27th May 2013 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Gill Smith left this review about The Top House

Popped in here for a drink while on a walk in the Lizard area, and enjoyed a St Austell Proper Job. It is a large establishment and did feel like a hotel bar being quiet. Seating outside if only the weather had been warmer. On the edge of the Green, so will get popular around mealtimes.

On 1st July 2012 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Roger Button left this review about The Top House

Until the Witch Ball opened down the road a couple of years ago, the Top House was not just the only pub in the village but also had the proud claim of being the most southerly pub on mainland UK. It will now have to be content with second place. Despite appearing to be as a much as a hotel as a pub, it does still have a pubby feel and manages to cater for a wide customer base of walkers, tourists and locals without leaning too heavily in favour of any particular group. There interior houses lots of maritime memorabilia, photos, pictures and artifacts, some culled from from the local shipwrecks and former lifeboats that operated from the headland. There are plenty of local coastal views and village scenes dotted about so if you don't fancy the 20 minute walk, just grab a beer and look at the paintings! One area contains a pool table and dart board whilst there is a separate section that is presumably used more for dining in the summer months. Despite being in a tourist hot spot, the prices are quite reasonable; £2.50 for a Betty Stoggs (Doom Bar & Green King IPA being the other options for ale drinkers). Sadly the Witch Ball was closed when we were here so the Top House got our undivided attention and whilst service was slow, it does do a good job at the end of a long walk.

On 26th March 2009 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


michael Davies left this review about The Top House

A very good place to dine and drink in.
We have stayed at the Lizard on a number of occasions,and have always found this pub very friendly.Good beer and very good food.

On 15th November 2008 - rating: 10
[User has posted 2 recommendations about 2 pubs]