FOOD Lifestyle reviews Tintagel Brewery Bar & Bistro

World‑class ale is not the only reason to visit Tintagel Brewery; it’s also the location for a magical dining experience, discovers Lara Watson

What’s the draw?

Award‑winning cuisine served in stylish surroundings among the clifftop fields of north Cornwall. The bistro makes the most of the brewed‑on‑site ales and local ingredients such as Cornish fish and wagyu beef reared next door.

Who’s cooking?

Fine‑dining newcomers, Simon Hobbs (front of house) and George Buckley (head chef) serve modern European dishes with plucky creativity. At just 24 years old, the pair are among the youngest in the country to be awarded an AA rosette. Leading chefs Nathan Outlaw and Gordon Ramsay have already swung by to check out what they’re up to.

What to order at Tintagel Brewery Bar & Bistro?

We visited to experience the five‑course seasonal tasting menu. It’s comprised of dishes that appear on the à la carte – which also features local and gourmet twists on trad fare such as wagyu steak and Caliburn ale pie.

Leave any preconceptions of a “brewery restaurant” at the door; this bar and bistro takes the experience next level via exceptional cooking and superlative ingredients. The brewery’s beers pepper the menus via dark‑ale breads and silky stout ice cream.

Our dinner started with breads served with homemade cranberry and honey butter, and a trio of amuse bouches that included a zesty smoked‑salmon parfait topped with king prawn, a slow‑confit rabbit terrine, and herby Mediterranean bruschetta.

For starters we took Simon’s recommendation and dived into a dish of ChalkStream rainbow trout. Cured in Cornish sea salt, sugar, citrus and Sea Horse gin – distilled at nearby Tregida Farm – it was a delicately flavoured forkful, cut with the pleasing acidity of kumquat.

Dishes are sensibly sized, not overly rich, and delivered with good pacing and attentive service. Our main course – duck breast with soy glaze, hazelnuts, salsify and orange reduction was as tender as it was flavourful.

The signature dessert – ‘chocolate and stout’ – combined chocolate delice with brown butter and stout crumb, blackberry gel and the brewery’s Caliburn ice cream.

An extensive wine list (try the velvety Cornish red from Knightor Winery near St Austell), creative cocktails and own‑brewed ales are all on hand to pair with the edibles, but it would be remiss not to experience the tasting flight of all seven Tintagel Brewery ales.

Need to know

Keep a lookout for spring supper evenings, when customers can sit outdoors and enjoy panoramic views over Bodmin Moor and the coast while sharing tapas‑style plates.