Wave goodbye to Stresstember and start October right by visiting one of these cosy pubs for autumn feasting
The Tartan Fox, Cornwall
For a gorgeous autumnal escape complete with roaring fires, feasting nights and a cosy pint or cocktail tucked away in the Cornish countryside, check out The Tartan Fox.
After just five months Adam Handling’s Cornish pub was added to the Michelin Guide and it’s no mystery how this happened. The menus celebrate the finest South West produce – including foraged ingredients from the pub’s very own kitchen garden – put to delicious use in pub classics with a luxe Handling-esque twist.
With a packed programme of masterclasses, seasonal markets and workshops throughout the season, the pub will also play host to the inaugural Adam Handling Collection Food Festival on October 4–5 which brings together the whole Adam Handling suite of restaurants, pubs and bars for a weekend of chef demos, live music and wine tastings.
The Three Horseshoes, Dorset
Heading to the Dorset coast for a bracing beachside autumn stroll? Treat yourself to a post-walk feast at this 300-year-old thatched pub in the village of Burton Bradstock on the Jurassic Coast.
It excels in quality cooking while retaining a refreshingly unpretentious gastropub vibe. Locally landed fish is a particular speciality of Dutch-born chef Jaap Schep. His penchant for Asian flavours sees the likes of Indonesian seafood curry served comfortably alongside British-leaning pub dishes like the Chesil Smokery seafood ploughman’s.
Even the bar snacks are done full throttle here, many of which are so generous they could easily pass for a standard course. The cockle popcorn is practically an institution while the bluefin tuna tostada with avocado, lime, soy, chilli, cucumber, sesame and coriander is a zingy palate refresher for a gloomy autumn day. Plus, the treasure of a wine list serves plenty by the bottle and glass to keep that autumn chill at bay.
St Tudy Inn, Cornwall
Curl up for dinner in this iconic dining pub which has long held a special place in the hearts of those in the know. Even better, turn an autumn feast into a full-blown foodie getaway by staying in one St Tudy’s AA rosette-awarded rooms, housed in a converted barn just steps from the action where head chef George Buckley and his band of bright young Cornish chefs create epic seasonal nosh.
The new autumn menu includes starters of pan-fried Cornish scallops and smoked beef croquettes with black truffle mayo. Mains feature the likes of day-boat fish special, autumn squash with pickled vegetables and wild Bodmin Moor venison with cavolo nero.
Finish the feasting with a torched blackberry and vanilla baked Alaska or caramelised apple soufflé with crème fraîche ice cream. There’s plenty more coming down the St Tudy events pipeline this year, including supper clubs with live music and a six-course New Year’s Eve dinner.
Acorn Inn, Dorset
Max out on autumn cosiness at a country gastropub that doesn’t just boast one open fire, but three. With exposed ceiling beams and oak-panelled walls to boot, the Acorn Inn fittingly offers everything you’d expect from a 16th-century coaching inn.
The gastropub is surrounded by beautiful Dorset countryside, comes with ten individually decorated bedrooms and an à la carte restaurant. Utilising low-miles produce from land to sea, the team of chefs create an exquisite dining experience that belies the relaxed atmos. The autumn seasonal special is Dorset venison with butternut fondant, the homemade burger is next-level tasty and the daily fresh-fish is always super special.
Make the most of the dinner, bed and breakfast package, and take time to walk off all the indulgences on a deer-spotting romp through nearby Melbury Park.
The Working Boat, Cornwall
If comfort and nostalgia are your cosy autumn pub goals, head to Falmouth. The Greenbank’s pub, The Working Boat, is a family- and dog-friendly waterside spot that was established in the late 1800s.
Since being lovingly rebuilt in 2015, The Working Boat has epitomised laidback seaside vibes. It’s a place where food is cooked with heart – from the fish and chips or hearty Sunday roasts to the ultra-decadent sticky toffee banana pudding with clotted cream. Everything is served with staff smiles and a side of panoramic views, not forgetting the generous selection of beers and wines to sip waterside.
Famous for hosting some of Falmouth’s liveliest evenings, the pub is the hub of many a celebration whether it’s Christmastime or the International Sea Shanty Festival. Alongside The Greenbank, The Working Boat also organises beach cleans to keep their special seaside spot squeaky-clean for everyone throughout the year.
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