Cosy corners, crackling fires and showstopping meals — explore the places where festive cheer, comfort and great food come together beautifully this winter, at these gorgeous Christmas pubs
The Old Coastguard, Cornwall
Get the festive fuzzies with a trip to the historic Cornish fishing village of Mousehole. From December 11, the twinkly lights are on and from December 5, The Old Coastguard is serving up bells-and-whistles food alongside crackers and plenty of cheery vibes.
Feast your eyes – and later bellies – on starters such as ChalkStream trout pastrami with pickles and horseradish cream, chicken and game terrine with fig chutney, or beetroot tarte tatin with chicory and walnuts. For mains, choose from stuffed turkey ballotine with all the trimmings, smoked squash dumplings with grilled oyster mushrooms, cod with sautéed sprouts and mussel butter and more, while desserts include sticky prune cake with brandy ice cream and spiced poached pear with chocolate crémeux and hazelnut ice cream.
This family-owned pub loves to be at the epicentre of its community – especially at this time of year – so make a trip on December 13 for the famous Village Feast, or on December 23 for the annual Tom Bawcock’s Eve – a super buzzy evening both in the pub and across the whole village. There’s also a very special menu for New Year’s Eve, plus they serve The Hangover Lunch on January 1. Safe to say, The Old Coastguard has got celebratory winter feasting covered.
The Cotley Inn, Somerset
Weave your way through curvy, steep-sided lanes in the foothills of the Blackdown Hills to reach a countryside bolthole that’s full of Christmas cosiness – The Cotley (as it’s known locally). Beautifully decorated – tasteful but with its own personality – the gleaming festive lights only enhance this ancient pub’s inherent charisma.
From an intimate occasion à deux to a festive get-together with the whole fam, The Cotley does pub Christmas dining proud. On the two- or three-course menus you’ll find the likes of wild venison carpaccio or whipped Somerset camembert cannoli for starters, mains of turkey with all the trimmings, black treacle-cured pork or chestnut and mushroom arancini – all of which is the perfect build-up to desserts such as a festive affogato with mince pie ice cream, a festive tiramisu or a selection of Somerset cheeses.
Drinking wine alongside the meal? Book one of their charming rooms with exposed-stone walls and roll-top baths.
The Working Boat, Cornwall
For feelgood festive vibes – whether a cosy catch-up or knees-up with work folk – The Working Boat in Falmouth is your must-visit pub this Christmas.
Famous for hearty portions and bold flavours, this harbourside bolthole gives its proper pub grub a festive glow-up in winter, including starters such as beetroot-cured salmon and celeriac and chestnut soup, mains of turkey paupiette, festive nut roast, grilled local fish and more – all served with red cabbage, sprouts and kale. The festive feast continues in style with puds including classic Christmas pudding, cinnamon pear crème brûlée as well as choc and orange mousse.
Their festive menu is available in two or three courses, both of which come with a free mulled cider. Talking of drinks, anyone who pre-orders the festive tipples while booking will get a ten per cent discount on the drinks bill. Continue the good times after the meal and retreat to the calm of the harbour’s edge, where a wood-fired sauna awaits – bookable as a private session or as a communal one. And relax.
The Lamb, Wiltshire
Peak cute Christmas alert. The Lamb in Hindon, just outside Salisbury, turns up the dial on feelgood festivities in December. Step into its 12th-century charm and inhale the hedonistic aromas of mulled wine before checking in to one of their plush rooms.
Then head downstairs to satisfy the winter hunger. From festive lunches with colleagues to Christmas Day itself, The Lamb has an array of Christmassy menus. Sharing boards for relaxed get-togethers comprise of pork, sage and chestnut Scotch eggs, pigs-in-blanket sausage rolls, hummus with dips, charcuterie, baked Cornish camembert and plenty more. That said, our Christmas-party menu picks include the smoked mackerel pâté with samphire butter to start, the venison, port and bay leaf pie with crushed winter roots for mains and the apple, fig and chestnut crumble with bay leaf custard for pud.
The Christmas Day menu is suitably special: trimmings with the turkey include a double-egg yorkie while alternative mains include Gressingham duck Wellington. The St Clement’s treacle tart with stewed clementines is a beautifully festive dessert. Even so, classicists will no doubt opt for Christmas pudding with brandy butter ice cream. And to finish – yes, there is one more course – why, a mince pie, of course.
The Barrington Boar, Somerset
In a sleepy, bucolic village tucked away behind National Trust property Barrington Court, The Barrington Boar admits it’s ‘full steam ahead’ leading up to Christmas. This gastropub par excellence is no doubt buoyed by the arrival of swanky new guest accommodation and an exquisite new bakery earlier this year – both next door to the pub. Owners Alisdair Clifford and Victoria Collins are also hosting an exclusive shopping evening on December 1, showcasing local artisans.
While this contemporary country pub isn’t open on Christmas Day itself, there’s plenty to enjoy in the lead-up to – and even during – Twixmas, with a whole host of reimagined classics on its festive menu, available for parties or à la carte diners.
The nibbles options of whipped cod’s roe and a duo of Somerset Charcuterie Company salami and pickles really set the scene, before diving into indulgent starters such as tandoori-roasted carrots with a lentil and coconut masala. For mains, confit duck leg ballotine with braised red cabbage or loin of Sika venison with venison-fat mash sounds devilishly good. And to end? Surely it has to be the Barrington Boar mince pie served with Somerset Cider Brandy ice cream, before happily snoozing it all off in one of the pub’s rooms or new holiday lets.
Enjoyed reading our curation of Christmas pubs in the South West? Discover more curated festive round-ups.
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