please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Definitely a pub with accommodation rather than a hotel. Main bar is especially characterful with a mini-exhibition on the wall pictorially describing the history of the village and no children allowed! With the brewery literally over the road, most offerings are from the Driftwood Spars Brewery - I tried the £3.80 per pint "Spars" which is the pub's best-seller and enjoyed it. Other village beers were Alfie's Revenge and Bowden Rocks as well as Black Flag's Naughty Pilchard and Dancing Duck's Nice Weather and DCUK (which hadn't travelled as well as the Spars). Our first visit but we found it pretty hard to fault.
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Brilliant, atmospheric old pub with a great selection of beers and microbrewery. Tintagel's Cornwall's Pride was excellent when I was in.
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we love the place, never know which beers will be on, but it adds to the fun. very dog friendly. food good, service good. would recomend.
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Aug 11 - popped in for lunch and didn't expect such a good experience for a pub so close to the beach (compared to the many bland touristy ripoffs on coast we walked in & straight out of that week). Our party of 4 had just sat down in pole position in the front bar when the skies opened up and people flocked in - hoards of them - with kids in prams, soggy dogs etc, the place swallowed them all over its three floors with no fuss. We ordered food - expecting a long wait (and I resigned myself to trying most of the excellent range of beers before being served) - but no - all 4 dishes arrived within 20 minutes, local fish & moules, though portions were a bit on the small size - it was all very tasty. Note, in summer you can get ticket for free parking opp pub, so ask at bar before coughing up ���s for pay& display.
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Visited this pub 3rd week in july 2011about 1pm. Im a real ale follower and this one is a muster!
8 handpumps 2 of their own brews, one skinners, tribute plus 4 microbreweries beers. Nice old fashion pub surroundings in the pub area all you could want. Had a snack, all well presented and tasty but pricey, but if you want cheap go to one of the cheap chain pubsand drink trash beer! Class place. We are booking to stop there next year on the strength of our visit. Cant comment on the restraunt but it looks a bit modern, cafe culture style.
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We haven't stayed at the Driftwood Spars, but visited it twice to sample its food and beers. For our April 2011 visit we booked in person a table for 3 on the balcony over the upstairs bar. On the night we arrived and a large party had been seated where we had booked, and we had been placed down by the bar (so the party members had to push past to order their drinks. No explanation or apology was given. We had to wait for the party to be served before our order was taken, and the resulting wait meant we only ate a main course. The food was lovely and so were the ales, so we returned in a party of 5 for the Sausage and Ale Festival in May 2011. The sausage meals had to be ordered from the downstairs bar, but at least they had a veggie sausage option. When the food arrived there was no veggie meal at all, and when we asked the waitress retorted that we would have to go and re-order from the downstairs bar. We refused and she reluctantly disappeared to return later with the veggie meal - which then had to be eaten after the other group members had finished theirs. We shall not return.
So, food and ales excellent, customer service, waitressing and overall customer care Very Poor for such a high-rated establishment.
Jynjy - 10 Jun 2011 17:55 |
This place has just won the title of Freehouse of the Year in the MA/Publican awards.
Well done!
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First visit here. We thought it a superb place especially if one appreciates beer brewed a few yards away. We had the porter which was superb. This was the only one of their portfolio on but it was the weekend of the Falmouth beer fest where they were well represented. The food was ok, not great, just ok, but decent portions. Gorgeous location as well, right by the bay.
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I�m not normally one to leave multiple reviews for the same pub unless it�s changed significantly, but following a return visit the next night, I�m going to make an exception in this case as I think I may have been a bit over generous on my comments in relation to the food. Obviously being on holiday put me in an exceptionally convivial frame of mind.
On reflection, my �catch of the day� was also a little heavy on the batter and a little light on the fish. Bearing in mind all the main courses are between �9 and �10, I would expect a little more. Similarly, Mrs. Blackthorn�s Basil Pesto Tagliatelle was very tasty, but again somewhat overpriced since the most expensive ingredient was probably the pasta.
The next night I chose the Tagliatelle, and it was unfortunately a completely different dish from the previous night. Not nearly as tasty and no discernible shavings of parmesan. Presumably a different chef leads to a somewhat inconsistent offering.
So a great pub, and a great choice of beer, but don�t make a detour for the food.
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An attractive pub situated just up from the small beach in St. Agnes. It was the local CAMRA�s Pub of the Year in 2009, so I had high expectations. As you walk in to the pub, there�s an unusual curved bar in front of you with about a dozen hand pumps on it. A welcome site for the weary traveller! There�s a well worn red carpet, and some attractive exposed stone walls and a limited number of tables with a mixture of bench seating and chairs, plus a wood burner at one end which must be very welcome in the winter.
The pub apparently derives it�s name from the Spars (which are old timbers used to make ships) that drifted up on to the beach. As such, it�s got a suitably nautical theme with lots of photo�s of old ships, a couple of ship�s wheels and lots of ship�s instruments dotted around the place. Add in a couple of fishing nets hanging from the ceiling, and you certainly wont forget you�re just a few yards from the beach. Besides the main bar, there�s an upper bar that lacks atmosphere but provides a pool table, and a top bar next to the restaurant with an impressive vaulted ceiling but which rarely seems to be open.
There was a short �pub grub� menu with just four main course options, plus a few snacks. That said, we both enjoyed what we had and would happily go back for more. There is a separate restaurant upstairs with a more extensive choice and more expensive prices. Barman was friendly, as were the many locals.
Beers on this occasion were Dartmoor Best, St. Austell�s Trelwaneys, Doom Bar, Tribute, Bays Gold plus their own (from the micro brewery next door) Lou�s Brew and Hill Blues. Ciders were Thatcher�s Gold, Thatcher�s Pear, Cornish Rattler and Addlestones.
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Plenty of Ale choice when I went (Thursday July 2010) and a cracking ceilidh band strumming away in the corner. Pub also lets in Dogs and seems to be part of the St Agnes community despite the steep hill into the main town. Food was very good in the bar. However, staying in the hotel part let it down - bedroom okay and terrible overcooked rubbery breakfast (how can a poached egg taste of rubber?).
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Wow. This one was a real find. Not only St Austell and Sharpes but also eight of their own brews. After a pint of St A's 'Proper Job' I switched to Lou's Brew (5%) and have to say it was the better pint. Food very good and generously served by friendly and efficient staff. We were there the same week as the previous reviewer but I can't recall any charge for the car park. Definitely coming back as there are still 7 of their brews I haven't tried.
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Worth noting - if you want to pop in for a drink and drive there, it costs �4.50 to park the car in their car park. You get a ticket so you can have your �4.50 back if you spend �10 in the pub in one transaction. Just wanted 3 halves, but bought 3.5 pints to get our car park charges back or the three halves would have cost us �9. 2 of their own beers, 3 St Austell, 2 Sharps Doom Bar a Skinners and a cider.
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Popped in here for refreshment late in the afternoon after a walk along the coastal path. I'd read about the place in a CAMRA magazine article and was very much looking forward to the visit - particularly as they have their own micro-brewery across the road. There were an impressive 8 ales available (2 of their own), and the usual suspects from St Austell, Skinner's and Sharps. I sampled their own Blue Hills bitter (would have been rude not to), which was quite tasty and I'd have again.
There are quite a few outside seating areas so we used the one behind the pub accessed from the coast path iteslf (a nice view if a longish walk to carry your beer!)
Unfortunatlely the building itself is a bit tired and could do with some refurbishment (the main bar area seemed quite cosy and is probably nice in winter). The gents toilets were not good and needed gutting, nevermind a good clean (and I was told similar of the ladies).
Can't comment on the food as didn't eat or see a menu, but the place looks very much set up to cater for a large number of diners when busy.
In a nutshell, the place is worth a visit if you're in the area, particularly for its interesting range of beers and definitely for the location, though I do wonder how successful the pub would be if it were somewhere else and not able to capitalise on it's great views! Interestingly it was Kernow CAMRA award-winning in 2009, and is in the Good Beer Guide, yet there are other pubs which are equal to this or better that don't make it into the guide!
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Visited this pub in February one lunchtime,the local homebrew was excellent...would have spent the afternoon here ,but moved on eventually by my wife! Bar food was good ,and both staff and customers extremely friendly...a good experience.
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I can never quite make my mind up about this place. The beer is usually now very good, except I have to say their own stuff, the principle for which I have nothing but praise, the execution I'm afraid lacks consistency and quality. It is often bland and compares poorly with Tribute. The food I never have, it's restaurant prices and I just won't pay this in any pub. It also feels a little bit grubby. After all that criticism however the staff and the beer (generally) are great...and that probably makes up for everything else.
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Another holiday in Cornwall, and we called in to this brewpub with it's great location. Agree that food seemed pricey, so we did not eat here, but we had no problem with the real ale, and will always call when in Cornwall. This time we had Driftwood Bunty's Beer and Sharps Honey Spice.
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Well went here after first vist during May 08 though in August this year it seemed less busy . On a hot summers day late afternoon would of expected more people maybe recession is biting. Had a pint of what was local or there own real ale which sadly seemed insispid and bland. However it may of been effected by the overpowering smell of dogs even though there was only one present during time of visit. Sadly to say another good looking pub from the outside that disapointed once we entered due to the the sticky flooring and poor real ale.
gjgj1 - 27 Sep 2009 23:43 |
The new owners have brought about some excellent changes including their real ale policy and their beer festivals which are definitely worth attending. However what does let it down is the quality of food on offer and the prices charged in relation to this quality/portion sizing. The pub is right on the seafront in Cornwall yet when I ordered fish and chips there recently, the fish still tasted frozen, the batter was really greasy and soggy and they charged around a tenner for this. (Dopuble the rpice of the local chippy but half the quality!). We ate with a group of friends and I was not lone with my experience. The deserts were also pretty pricey and meanly portioned. I agree with kernowsaint that in terms of food they need to cater more towards the actual audience hey attract.
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This is the first time I have been to this pub and managed to find some of their own beers being served. Never did find the old cuckoo ale. The Alfies Revenge 6.5% and Blue Hills Bitter 4.0% both went down very well, as did the Brew Dog IPA 6.0%. A Skinners and St Austell beer also enjoyed.
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Sorry vinnie, but if you are expecting to have a decent pint of HSD here, you've had it!!
Ws there in June and had the last pint for the foreseeable future. I was one of at least 8 people disappointed that evening (out of a total customer count of 20). it was replaced by one of their micro-brewery beers. No contest at all.
In fasct the landlord fibbed to anyone who asked for it saying the recipe had changed and was now 4.8 instead of 5.0.
When the fourth person asked for it the story had become that it was now 4.3!!! No need for lies is there.
We are back in Cornwall in September so hopefully HSD may be back on, but would not hold out too much hope. Another pub off the list for me I am afraid.
Why are so many pubs in Cornwall not serving HSD anymore???
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had a couple of nice pints in here,well kept HSD,nice atmosphere and a great location
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I feel I must comment on point 2 of the previous review. My son is a barman at the Driftwood and whilst amenable he is certainly not posh or on a surfing holiday!!
The Driftwood is a great pub and one of my top 3, the other 2 being the Turks Head at St.Agnes, I.O.S and the great Square and Compass in Dorset. The range of beers is almost 100% local now with Sharp's, Skinners and St.Austell represented, along with the home brewed beers from across the road.
One small critisism is the Bar food menu. It's got very restaraunty of late. There should always be room for Scampi Louise!!
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There are essentially three parts to this extensive operation: pub, B&B and restaurant. Top location.
1. Good pub. Tradtional, (unsurprisingly) nautically-themed comfortable bar. Good range of St Austell and other beers - with the Trib well kept. Large, discrete room with pool etc for those that like that kind of thing - and one that doesn't impose on the main bar. Upstairs family room; and a small-ish snug - which is nice, but not overly-populated or always open. Pretty good boozer all round.
2. Fair restaurant. Modern and quite discrete from the pub. Nice selection of food, albeit slightly expensive for the area; that is eminently edible. Food service a bit slow. Floor staff seem largely to be posh, amenable kids; first jobbing on a surfing holiday. Pleasant but slightly hapless and/ or absent on occasion.
3. B&B (our room) a bit naff - Next catalogue 1985; a bit tired and a bit musty. OK-ish, although not outstanding VFM. Other rooms seemed a bit better - maybe a rolling refurbishment is underway...
I'd defintiely eat and drink here again; although would think twice about the B&B if better, nearby option presented itself.
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Great pub. I am not living in Cornwall but I have been around for about 5 years. I really like this place, great atmosphere, good food and friendly stuff. Live music is also very good.
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Had a nice lunch in the main bar.
Nice atmosphere and cosy feeling.
Well kept Skinners washed the food down nicely. A little soulless in the upper bar if it's quite and the bar is closed and they haven't lit any of the fires!
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Tremendous beams in the bar. Real ale in exelent condition (they brew their own) and the food was very good. Will visit again when next down that way.
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Always alive and kicking even if the tables are permanently rocky and sticky and the menus tatty and stained. Fascinating building - I almost had to ask for a map to the toilets first time. One of Conrwall's top live music pubs with local and national pub circuit bands and occasional name acts. Great selection of ales. Late licence. This pub is down a lane at Trevaunance Cove, off the beaten track, and can attract the rougher element of local youth. Gets rowdy late on especially on hot summer nights. Keep up the good work Jill; some sins are forgiveable in exchange for a great night out.
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An excellent pub if you're local. Probably pretty good if your not. Good selection of real ales, but probably too many for the winter trade. I always have a good time there. Jilland Gordon are
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Used to be THE young Aggie people's pub which catered well for everybody. Frankly it feels like it's lost its way as a pub as it has become much more of a hotel, mass sunday lunch providor and restaurant with poor and poor value food with sticky laminated menus. However it stocks a huge range of real ales inc Sharps and a real cider, and they are always very good. You wouldn't recognise any of the negative comments with a beer on a sunny evening outside or by the fire in winter. Location, location etc
alan - 28 Sep 2004 14:18 |
A former mine workhouse and sail loft, now a family run hotel with a micro brewery! Popular with locals & tourists and easy access for surfing and cliff walks. Monthly theme night, live theatre and music at the weekend. A great place!!!!
Andrew - 12 Sep 2004 21:35 |
