Holmbush Inn, St Austell

Visited: Multiple times

Accessibility: Level access from the rear car park. Dedicated disabled toilet (RADAR key) near the back door; key available from the bar. Inside is generally spacious but can feel tight when the pub is busy.

The front of the pub sits directly on the main road with no stopping options, so parking round the back is essential. The car park can be very busy, and although there are disabled bays, they’re often occupied. Once you’re in, access into the pub is straightforward, and the dedicated disabled toilet near the rear door is a real positive.

Holmbush is a staple for Eric, and the staff are universally friendly — consistently warm and welcoming on every visit. It’s a large, lively pub with plenty of seating and a broad menu. Portions are generous and the food is classic pub fare done reliably well. It’s not trying to be quirky or atmospheric; it’s a practical, dependable place where you know exactly what you’re getting.

Overall: A friendly, reliable pub with easy rear access, a proper disabled toilet, and consistently good pub food. Parking can be tight, but the staff and straightforward atmosphere keep us coming back.

The Rising Sun, Portmellon

Visited: 23 March 2025

Accessibility: Small steps to enter and to reach the toilets. Adjacent car park not owned by the pub; on‑street parking a few hundred metres away is easier.

A pub we’d been meaning to visit for a long time, not least because it sits right on the water and looked ideal for a warm drink while Eric’s companions enjoy a swim. We finally made it on a sunny but cold Sunday in March — and since that first visit we’ve returned many times.

The building feels old (17th century, perhaps) but blends modern touches with its historic character in a way that works beautifully. The landlord is exceptional: warm, welcoming, and treats Eric like an old friend every time. The small outdoor area is a real sun trap and so close to the sea you can practically taste the salt.

Parking can be awkward, the adjacent car park isn’t run by the pub — but if you’re willing to walk a short distance, there’s reasonable on‑street parking that doesn’t upset the locals.

The food is excellent: thoughtful, well‑cooked dishes rather than standard pub grub, and everything we’ve tried has been consistently good.

Overall: A warm, welcoming coastal pub with great food and a landlord who makes every visit feel personal. Access involves steps and parking can be tricky, but the setting and hospitality keep drawing us back.

Farmer’s Arms, St Columb Minor

Visited: 24/04/2026

Accessibility: Not fully assessed. We parked at the back of the pub where there are steps and Eric didn’t enter or use the toilets.

A quiet pub in a great spot, tucked in the shadow of the local church tower. When we visited on a sunny Friday afternoon it was almost empty, which made it hard to get a true sense of the usual atmosphere — our experience may not reflect a busier day.

We parked at the back and made the most of the sunshine in the beer garden, which was genuinely pleasant. The garden is easy to access from the car park, and on a warm day it’s the best part of the pub. However, there are steps leading down from the garden into the bar, so accessibility that way isn’t ideal.

We didn’t try the front entrance or the toilets, so can’t comment on those. Beer was perfectly fine, and we didn’t see a menu to get a sense of the food offering.

Overall: A quiet visit in a lovely location, with a sunny beer garden that’s easy to reach from the car park. Inside access from the garden involves steps, and we didn’t see enough of the pub to get a full picture — but on our visit, it felt very still and a little hard to read.

The Dolphin, Grampound

Visited: 15/05/2026

Accessibility: One disabled parking bay sits near the back door, but the rear entrance has some fairly high steps. The front door opens straight onto the A390, so Eric didn’t fancy stopping there to check it properly, though it did look a bit easier than the back.

Overall: Accessibility issues aside, it’s a great pub — a new favourite, and one we’ll definitely return to. It’s a St Austell Brewery pub with the usual ales. It’s an old place, but somehow still feels airy inside. The welcome was warm, and we’ll be back, probably to try something from the simple but tasty‑looking menu.

No toilet visits required; it was only a short visit, but we’ll be back to give them a thorough review.

Situated in historic Grampound on the road between St Austell and Truro, the Dolphin is a recommended destination.

The Britannia Inn, Par

Visited: Multiple Times

Accessibility: Very good. Disabled parking bays close to the entrances to both the lounge bar and Waves Restaurant. Everything inside on the level so simple to navigate. It gets busy though so movement sometimes difficult. Easy to access disabled toilets if dining in Waves ask to sit close to reception.

The Restaurant is called Waves – so of course Eric decided to be descriptive. The Britannia is a firm favourite of ours and we have a longstanding relationship as it provides solid fayre for family occasions. It also tries pretty hard to provide a varied menu and the staff often go out of their way to accommodate everyone’s needs.

It’s a popular place and gets busy. It’s a modern feel and exhibits little evidence of its age or history. It’s a modern affair, but the atmosphere is good, the staff are friendly, so we return time after time.

The Rashleigh Arms

Visited: Numerous times

Access: The adjacent car park with its historic, but very uneven surface, probably isn’t the easiest place to park. If mobility is an issue, better to either drop off on the main street in the adjacent lay by or use the car park on the other side of the road, accessed off the mini roundabout.

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The Barley Sheaf, Gorran

Visited: 22 March 2025

Accessibility: Parking is about 100 m away and the surface isn’t great, but there is space to drop off right outside the door, which helps. Entry is via a ramp and low steps into the main pub. Toilets are easy to access, and there’s a dedicated disabled toilet — always good to see.

When we walked in there was a comfortable mix of obvious locals and visitors, and both were treated equally well by the bar staff. It’s a gorgeous building, full of character, and the staff are happy to share the pub’s history with anyone who shows even the slightest interest.

The barley Sheaf exterior

We didn’t eat there on this visit — it’s not a pub we regularly pass — but the food has an excellent reputation. Based on our first experience, though, we’d happily return: a warm welcome, good accessibility, and tasty beer make a strong case for a future meal.

Overall: A charming, historic pub with friendly staff, good access, and well‑kept beer. Not on our usual route, but definitely one we’d go back to.

Enjoying a pint of Cornwall’s Pride

The Polgooth Inn

Visited: Multiple times

Access: Disabled spaces within 20 m of the front door. If they are occupied there is suitable space to drop off. Easy wide door access. Good flat surfaces and no steps to the toilets.

Polgooth at night

Eric loves the Polgooth. In fact it is probably true to say that it is one of his favourite pubs. Luckily, it’s also one of the closest to his home; win, win!

Steeped in history the Polgooth Inn is beautifully situated overlooking a lush green valley on the outskirts of St Austell, on the fantastic Cornish south coast.

Eric outside the Polgooth

Outside, to the front of the pub there is a large flat space with plentiful seating. The south facing aspect means that the pub is great spot to soak up the sun. The seats too are capacious and easy to sit in and get up from.

Inside, the pub is cosy and makes the most of its historical ambiance, low ceilings, old stone floors and lots of lovely wood. The pub is always busy and is a very popular eatery. We recommend that you book if you want to eat there of an evening. There are glamping pods close by and the pub supports a loyal local community, its glamping tourists and visitors from further afield.