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Admiral Benbow, Penzance
Penzance
TR18 4AF
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
paulof horsham left this review about Admiral Benbow
I didn't explore much further than the bar area, and I found even that inundated with various bits and bobs.
The bar itself offered a couple from Treens Brewery as well as ProperJob. A couple of interesting lagers in the shape of Flensburger and Spaten made a change from the norm, and Camden Pale provided the craft keg option.
Food is available from an extensive menu and a booking isn't essential but be prepared to sit at an unsuitably low table if you do chance it.
I'd be happy to return, but probably not for a meal unless I could get a proper table.
On 20th September 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 453 recommendations about 425 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Admiral Benbow
This bizarre rambling place has been well described below. It struck me as being rather food orientated but certainly isn't a gastro pub. I didn't venture upstairs but it appeared they were using it for the World Cup. I found a spot to sit somewhere round the back and noticed several people walking through taking pictures.
The bar has three hand pumps which had Skinner's Kickov, Doom Bore and St Austell Proper Job. I went for the Proper Job (£3.60) which was in good nick. I was both pleased and surprised to find it to be one of the cheaper pints in Penzance.
It's worth a look but I'll leave it to the Sunday Colour Supplement Brigade.
On 25th June 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about Admiral Benbow
The Benbow; well this in an interesting one. This is a corner pub, although it looks detached. It is actually a 1950s pub, i believe the result of a cottage conversion. The pub exterior matches its bizarre interior. The pub is in a heavy white render, which reminds me of the icing on one of my mum's Christmas cakes in the 1970s. The sash windows are in yellow, giving a feel of a ship-of-the-line in old Benbow's time and Camberwick Green fans will feel elated over the Windy Miller look-a-like perched on the hipped roof, likely taking a shot at Farmer Bell mounted on his heathen tractor. There is a terrace. The interior has rooms on two floors. Upstairs there is a function room, restaurant and the Wreck Bar; many leaving in a wrecked state I am sure. The Wreck Bar was closed, but i sneeked up - it is decked out (forgive the pun) like a ship-of-the-line, in wood panel and yellow, with a blue carpet and has a model ship and the same bric-a-brac as elswhere. A pool table rings a bell. The main room is hilarious. It is filled with eclectic nonsense, mainly nautical, but there is a suit of armour, barrels, a Wurlitzer jukebox, an anchor and an 18th century captain's figurehead that looks about as happy as a Sunderland fan at the Villa. The pictures speak for themselves really. There is no TV that i saw and the music was general and soft. The service was really friendly, as too were the locals perched at the bar - one of which showed me around - i also saw a lot of holidaymakers, one of which looked like Quinno, happy no doubt that he had finally found the exit after fighting his way through all of tosh. They do food, but we didn't eat. Beer; usual stuff, with St Austell Proper Job and Doombar on handpull - the Job was fine. Simply an experience rather than a beer. You must go for the fun, but note where the exits are, just in case you get lost!
On 2nd May 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
peter ashworth left this review about Admiral Benbow
Arrived at the bar just in time before a tour guide walked in complete with 25 German tourists who all seemed to order pints of Guinness.The pub seemed to be a cross between the Antiques Roadshow,a Maritime Museum and a pub, and i cannot add any more to the previous reviewers detailed reports.I thought the pub was great and could not get enough of it,and if you are in the area most definitely worth a visit
On 11th July 2012
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2318 recommendations about 2275 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about Admiral Benbow
Visited yesterday and loved it. 2 ales on were Coors Sharps Doom Bar and St Austell Proper Job, both in good condition. Had a wander round as it is one of those pubs that should be explored, and as the previous reviewers have mentioned, there is plenty to see. Jukebox still there too.
I asked if I could look upstairs as I remember visiting here some years ago when upstairs was basically a huge empty room with more of their shipwreck gear round the edges, but wow. It has been done out since then with seating and a bar, and plenty more to look round. There is also an outside seating area up there looking over the water.
On 2nd June 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about Admiral Benbow
The original Admiral Benbow was a fantasy pub featured in Treasure Island and this one also seems to live in a world of its own. The stunningly eccentric, cluttered but rather contrived interior makes the place worthy of a visit above anything else with barely an inch of space existing where you won’t find a pot, pan, jug, urn, figurine, model ship, lantern, antique firearm, figurehead or divers helmet. Pride of place must go to the magnificent decorative fireplace, the mantelpiece of which is of course stacked with more remnants of antique fairs, charity shops and probably local shipwrecks. The brightly coloured beams and pillars all add to the effect although with all the clutter, the interior looks a lot smaller than it probably is. There are numerous nooks and crannies, cosy but not necessarily comfortable and you may need to climb over the occasional anchor to get in. The music will appeal to those of a certain age as it all comes from original 45’s played on an old Wurlitzer jukebox. The bar itself is quite small and awkwardly placed in front of the door. There were 3 hand pumps with Proper Job, Doom Bar and 1 unused on my visit. The staff were very welcoming and attentive, the atmosphere genial and quite relaxed although it does get very busy at peak times. Some people may feel it is all a bit over the top but it is certainly something different and remains one of the best pub options in town.
On 29th December 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Admiral Benbow
If you let your colour-blind mad aunt design a pub for the tourists by the seaside, this is a pretty close approximation to what you'd get. The place has gaudy tat everywhere - and I really do mean everywhere, that bloody anchor on the left hand side of the bar would bother Lynn Faulds-Wood's ghost. I am assured that most of the tat comes from salvage from shipwrecks from the past 400-odd years. It's so stupidly over-the-top it sort of works in the same weird way attempting to drink yourself sober does.
Only Doombar on when I went in (though there looks to be capacity for at least one other) which was served well enough. Food is also available, though I didn't sample as we'd already been to the Turks. Take a moment to have a go on the proper old jukebox which plays 7" singles. Very cute indeed, so perhaps a good place to take Granny as nearly all the singles are pre-1975. The (fictional) Admiral Benbow is world-renowned for its appearance in Treasure Island by RL Stevenson. Note that this pub isn't actually 'it'.
Overall, worth popping for the brain-melting array of colour, artefacts and getting a couple of tracks on the old jukebox.
On 14th April 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]