Dining pubs for festive lunch in Cornwall
Fancy a feelgood lunch at a gorgeous pub? These five dining pubs in Cornwall have it nailed
The crackle of a roaring fire, wafts of mulled cider or wine, and the distant winter sun glowing through frosty windows produce a quintessential – some might say perfect – backdrop to a memorable festive lunch in Cornwall. So go on, treat yourself.
The Tartan Fox, Newquay
Adam Handling MBE doesn’t do anything by halves, festive lunch included. Before snuggling up at his pub’s winter garden, toasting marshmallows on the open fire and nursing a mug of mulled cider, enjoy a festive lunch of serious magnitude.
Begin the experience with snacks – this is Christmas after all. The likes of cheese doughnuts and black pudding bon bons pave the way beautifully for smaller plates, including Adam’s signature ‘Mother’ dish of celeriac, apple and dates, if that doesn’t take the fancy, try the haggis scotch egg or lobster tart. The larger plates are just as heady; beef and ale suet pudding, roast duck with ember-baked beetroot and shellfish linguine feature among others, all supplemented (as if it needs supplements) with sides such as roast potatoes, spiced red cabbage and brussels with bacon, then finish with the house trifle or mince pie tart to really do the festive feasting justice.
As well as being available for private parties, The Fox also opens on Christmas Day, when the main course becomes decidedly more traditional with turkey, a choice of wellingtons – beef or heritage carrot – and even more. And while both the Christmas pud and plum and ginger trifle sound like unmissable desserts on the big day, the chocolate and coffee soft-serve refuses to be ignored.
The festive à la carte menu is available from December 2, including Boxing Day.
The Working Boat, Falmouth
The beloved Falmouth harbourside pub throws open its welcoming Cornish arms to people and dogs alike, and not just on Christmas Day but throughout the merrymaking season, including festive parties.
Side-stepping the enormous task of Christmas Day lunch is made all the easier thanks to The Working Boat, whose tasty trimmings and more grace the big day’s menu, so ponder the options while toasting to the lack of potato peeling with something delicious in the glass.
Starters include the likes of confit duck leg and smoked salmon tartare, followed by mains such as paupiette of turkey with apricot sage stuffing and goose liver bon bon, or roast goat’s cheese and beetroot pithivier. Tempting though it is to follow with a hearty Christmas pud, those who are not so partial to dried fruits can opt for the bitter dark chocolate delice, or a selection of cheeses.
For festive frolickers meanwhile, the party menu begins with a winter warmer on arrival followed by warming parsnip and cider soup with parsnip crisps. Starter options include smoked fishcake and ham hock terrine with a pickled quail’s egg while the main courses take a pub approach to proceedings with chipotle turkey burger served with roastie chips being a novel way to get on board with turkey. Gluten free and dairy-free diners will be pleased the turkey options – both for Christmas Day and the party menus – are allergen free.
The Rising Sun, Truro
Diners who demand ingredients with integrity won’t be disappointed by The Rising Sun’s festive lunch, as the obsession with epic ingredients continues all year round.
Enjoy the carefully sourced festive food while being seduced by mulled wine under the spell of twinkly lights and shiny decorations. The three- and four-course set menus are crammed with festive dining crackers, including starters of smoked salmon with horseradish and dill roulade, jerusalem artichoke velouté with pickled mushroom and confit egg yolk, or fig, beetroot and goat’s cheese tart fine. The grandiose mains include – but are not limited to – featherblade of beef with potato rosti, spinach and mushroom wellington with roasted root vegetables, and pan-fried catch of the day with a herb potato cake.
The clementine and sherry trifle with toasted almond is begging to be ordered, although the chocolate torte with tonka bean ice cream and burnt orange will catch the eye of those with a sweet tooth.
The festive lunch menu runs from December 3 (except on Sundays) and can be booked for any party number, up to a maximum of 24.
Book here.
The Old Coastguard, Mousehole
The Old Coastguard is diving deep into Christmas revelry this year with the festive lunch being just part – albeit a seriously delicious part – of the whole scene.
On December 7 the pub hosts The Village Feast, a lunch followed by singing from the Barbed Choir, while December 23 holds a very special place in Mousehole’s calendar. Tom Bawcock’s Eve is a celebration and memorial of the efforts the legendary Mousehole resident went to – lifting the village from famine by going out to fish in a severe storm. During the festival there is a lantern parade through the village while Stargazy pie – a mixed fish, egg and potato pie with protruding fish heads – is served.
Meanwhile, the festive lunch, in true Old Coastguard style, is immensely appealing. Start with ChalkStream trout pastrami with pickled cucumber, or smoked beetroot with whipped tofu, pickled blackberry and toasted seeds, or how about smoked ham hock and Cornish gouda croquettes to kick things off? The main affair leads with the ultimate turkey lunch or a nut roast, both of which come with all the trimmings: fondant potato, slow-cooked sprouts, glazed carrots, braised red cabbage and bread sauce, alternatively the Cornish sole with crisp new potatoes, seaweed butter, braised rainbow chard and mussels is a fine festive-worthy option.
Plum pudding with brandy custard is surely impossible to miss? A tricky choice, especially when faced with alternatives of apple tarte tatin with hazelnut ice cream or Cornish blue with quince. Decisions, decisions.
Available from December 6-22 for lunch, and in the evening for groups of six or more when booked in advance.
The Harbour Inn, Porthleven
Who needs snow when you can watch dramatic waves crash onto the harbour while diving into a hearty festive lunch, even on Christmas Day?
That’s the deal at Porthleven’s The Harbour Inn, a St Austell managed pub that’s packed with Cornish character, even more so since its refurbishment. Snatch the coveted spot near the open fire before tuck into the three-course meal, which begins with dishes like butternut squash and smoked applewood cheese arancini, or duck and orange paté. Move onto a classic main course of turkey with cranberry and chestnut stuffing, or a baked butternut squash, lentil and almond wellington. Piscatorial fans won’t want to miss devouring the pan-fried fillet of Cornish whiting.
Whether it’s a cheeseboard to follow, Christmas pud, or the joyful-sounding snowball trifle, there’s plenty of festive cheer in this cosy pub hotspot, which also has rooms.
Available throughout December, including Christmas Day.
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