5 Oldest Pubs in Cornwall, England

Cornwall boasts some of the finest pubs in the UK that have been welcoming travelers for centuries. Many Cornish pubs have a unique character with the wonky low ceilings with exposed beams, old creaky floors, roaring fire and fine selection of beer. Cornwall is steeped in history with legendary tales of pirates and King Arthur helping give an air of mystique to the area and its many pubs. The following five pubs sent in to us by West Cornwall Cottage Holidays to share with our readers are amongst the oldest pubs in Cornwall with the oldest on record dating back to the 11 century.

The Pandora Inn, Mylor (13th Century)

With its flagstone floors, low-beamed ceilings and thatched roof, it’s not difficult to believe that little has changed since the 13th century. The inn was re-named in memory of the HMS Pandora, the naval ship sent to Tahiti to capture the mutineers of Captain Bligh’s Bounty. Unfortunately, the Pandora struck a remote part of the Great Barrier Reef in 1791 and sank with the loss of many crew and mutineers. The captain, Captain Edwards, was court-martialed on his return to Cornwall where he is reputed to have bought this inn.

On 24 March 2011, the Pandora Inn suffered a devastating fire that hit headline news. No one was hurt and the Pandora was restored with traditional materials and building methods, completely re-thatched and the chimneys re-built so that the all-important log fires could ensure a warm welcome for customers again as it has done for hundreds of years.


Weary Friar, Saltash (12th Century)

Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, you will be transported to an age ago when you step into the Weary Friar; it has managed to maintain the warm character from its beginnings in the 12th Century. The Inn used to give accommodation to church builders and has been a place of rest for many people over the past 9 centuries. Although it prides itself as being one of the oldest pubs in Cornwall it has moved with the times and put carpet in, in some rooms and has a television.




Victoria Inn, Penzance (12th Century)
Victoriainn-penzance.co.uk

The Victoria Inn is located in the small coastal village of Perranuthnoe and is only half a mile from the beautiful southwest coastal path that is very popular with holidaymakers and home to some of the best holiday cottages in Cornwall. If you don’t fancy staying in a Cornish cottage then the Victoria Inn has two en-suite rooms if you have tried too much of the local ales and fine wines! Not only do they have a great selection of drinks, they also have an award-winning menu. They also are very child friendly and allow for dogs, which gives it a really personal feel and differs from the more corporate chains of pubs. If you're thinking of taking a holiday and staying in Penzance then




The Crown Inn, Near Bodmin (12th Century)

The Crown Inn is a fantastic pub that offers a small bed and breakfast and award-winning food served at both lunch and dinner time. Not only is their food award-winning, it is also all local produce, the Crown Inn supports local, Cornish farmers, so you can be certain that the food you’re eating is fresh and the people that deserve the money are earning it.




The Old Inn and Restaurant, Near Bodmin (11th Century)

The Old Inn used to be a place where the monks who were building the church next door, nowadays it is more popular among workers at the quarry who take rest after a long day of work. This is one of, if not the oldest pub in Cornwall and has a huge roaring fire and low-beamed ceilings, which really gives it the feeling that it is an old pub and gives it an abundance of character.