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Admiral Benbow, Penzance


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Operator: Independent
46 Chapel Street, Penzance, TR18 4AF (View on Google Map)

A short walk from the town centre, this 400-year old family-friendly if somewhat quirky pub is designed like a ship with bars on both floors. The narrow street frontage and bar area belie its tardis-like interior with many nooks, crannies and separate drinking areas, including the Wreck Bar upstairs. Heavily themed on piratical/nautical lines, the pub is festooned with original salvage from local wrecks to give added interest to a rambling old maze of rooms on the two floors, worth a few minutes' exploration. The single guest beer is available all year. It varies and is from mainly local breweries.

Information for this venue is provided by the Cornwall Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Local Authority
Cornwall
Last updated
28/02/2025
Last surveyed
25/02/2025
Leasehold owner
unknown
Freehold owner
individual
Pub ID
COR/362
Asset of Community Value

Two star - A pub interior of very special national historic interest

Listed status: II

18th-century pub with an extraordinary interior, the creation of which was begun in the late1950s by former owner and diver Roland Morris. The Great Cabin is a spectacular themed room utilising fittings from wrecked ships to re-create the aft cabin of a privateer, though it now contains some later 'standard' items like bench tables and seating. Please note, though, that this room is laid out as a restaurant and used as such in the summer season; in winter it is only open for occasional functions, but the staff will generally be happy to let you view. Upstairs is the Wreck Room, again only used in the summer, and otherwise acting as a store room. Artefacts and trinkets are not set out in any order or theme. The public bar, front right, has a sloping bar counter and a copper top; the bar-back is a mix of old and new shelves. Also in this room are small seating bays on stone bases, round tables with copper tops and a panelled ceiling. To the left are more seating areas, a brick fireplace with carved mantelpiece (another shipwreck item) and nautical artefacts in abundance.

General information about historic pub interiors

18th century pub with an extraordinary interior created by owner Roland Morris, who was a diver, between 1950 and 1960, constructed from ships' salvage and wrecks. The fascia board of decorative character was added in 1959 (source; Grade II Listed Building description). The public bar at the front right has a sloping bar counter with unusual frontage and a copper top that was presumably added in the 1950s; the bar back is a mixture of old and new shelves. There are some small seating bays on stone bases, small round tables have copper tops and panelled ceiling. On the left are more seating areas, a brick fireplace with carved mantelpiece (another wrecked ship item) and nautical artefacts everywhere. Through a doorway are more seating areas and a door with coloured glass panels which leads to a passage from which you can access the Great Cabin or go upstairs to the Wreck Bar.

The Great Cabin is a spectacular themed room, an intact reconstruction of the interior of a sailing ship, utilising fittings from wrecked ships to re-create the aft cabin of a Privateer, though there appears to be some later 'standard' items of bench tables and seating. It is relevant to note that this room is laid out as a restaurant and used as such in the summer season. In winter it is only used for occasional functions, but at quiet times ask the staff for permission to view. Upstairs there is the Wreck Room which is again only used in the summer season, the rest of the time being used as a store room. Artefacts and trinkets are not set out in any order or theme. At the front of the first floor is the Lady Hamilton Bar accessed via a staircase just inside the front door, or through the Wreck Bar.

General information about historic pub interiors
Wednesday
Noon - 11:00pm
Thursday
Noon - 11:00pm
Friday
Noon - 11:00pm
Saturday
Noon - 11:00pm
Sunday
Noon - 11:00pm
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Noon - 11:00pm
Wednesday
Noon - 2:30pm & 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Thursday
Noon - 2:30pm & 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Friday
Noon - 2:30pm & 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Saturday
Noon - 2:30pm & 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Sunday
Noon - 4:00pm
Monday
No Service
Tuesday
6:00pm - 9:00pm

Current beers

This Pub serves 1 changing beer and 2 regular beers.

Regular and recently seen
St Austell Proper Job Pump Clip-2
St Austell - Proper Job

Premium Pale Ale

ABV: 4.5%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No

This beer is served regularly. Spotted once

Treen's - Essential
Treen's - Essential

Session Pale Ale

ABV: 3.8%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No

This beer is served regularly. Spotted 8 times recently. Last spotted 2 days ago

Treen's - Classic
Treen's - Classic

Session Bitter

ABV: 4.3%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No

Spotted 4 times recently. Last spotted 2 days ago

Changing

Changing beers typically include: Treen's - Classic

Source: Local


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Facilities
Lunchtime Meals Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals Evening Meals
Live Music Live Music
Family Friendly Family Friendly
Dog Friendly Dog Friendly
Function Room Function Room
Games Games
Dog Bingo
Restaurant Restaurant
Wi Fi Wi Fi
Features
Real Ale Real Ale
Real Heritage Pub Real Heritage Pub
Transport
Close to bus routes (550m)
Bus Station
Nearby Station (550m)
Penzance

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