The Tolcarne Inn — Restaurant in Great Britain

The Tolcarne Inn is a pub in Newlyn, Cornwall, just outside of Penzance. I happened to be on my way to watch a film about an Irish architect, when I stopped in the Tolcarne Inn for lunch. Suspicious of gastro pubs, ranging from uppity to down-facing. Ladies were pleasant, very quiet clientele, like a village pub. I sat by the window with my book about the cognitive decline of Joe Biden, but when the food came, I forgot about Uncle Joe entirely. I ordered turbot with hollandaise sauce and asparagus, a side of boiled “Cornish dailies” and a white Americano. A warning about “small plates”. Quite, quite. You could have lost the fish in the wash, the two asparagus were stolen from a fisher-maid’s garden, the hollaindaise failed to mask the paltry dimensions. The bowl of potatoes, lathered in butter and dill, was substantial, boasting my fish like a thin man wearing large clothes. (£25 for the lot. Suspicious? I thought so too.) After the first mouthful, I was shocked. I chewed slowly, methodically, the flavours informing my tongue. The turbot was cooked with rock salt; the flesh keeps shape, easy to pull apart. The hollandaise has none of that wiry flavour; it’s smooth, not unlike a Bailey’s. Asparagus are tender, simple. Boiled “Cornish dailies” - new potatoes - are tender too. Dill and butter not overpowering. When you are filled with shock during a meal, this usually comes from the waitress dropping your plate, or some punter attacking the bar, but rarely the food. My modest meal shocked me. I forgot about Joe Biden, remembering my youth. Perfect fresh fish - prepared differently in Bermuda, but the same sensation. The outside world vanishes. Flawless food. Tourists ambling in and out of the pub, acting like the Inn was just another watering hole. No, no, no. My little turbot and asparagus and potatoes forced me back into the shell of my youth, I thought about people thinking about youth; what form it took, and so on. Walker is in shock, on the verge of tears. Now, at this point, you reach out and touch your partner’s hand, but I was alone. So the waitress came over and asked, “Is your food alright?” Because I’m thinking about time and space, prompted by the excellent food, I look up slowly, like a post-operative patient jigged back to life. “It’s flawless,” I said. “Suspiciously flawless,” I added. She smiles, walks away. Meanwhile another customer - frothy, biscuit-shirted - has the audacity to say their beer is “a bit frothy” when archangels and medcine men craft in the kitchen like so many Cornish saints. A chef peers out of the kitchen, catching my eye. A smug smile on his face. “Yes, you are God,” I want to say; I want to sing this from Newlyn to...

This historic maritime pub, masterfully helmed by chef and restaurateur Ben Tunnicliffe, offers a culinary haven for seafood enthusiasts.

From the moment we arrived, the warm, inviting atmosphere set the tone for an unforgettable evening. The pub’s charming maritime décor, coupled with its prime location overlooking one of the UK’s most important fishing ports, creates a unique and cosy ambiance.

The menu, thoughtfully curated and reflective of seasonal abundance, showcases the freshest local seafood. We started with the salt cod fritters – a delicate, perfectly seasoned delight. For the main course, the goujons and monkfish were outstanding, each dish crafted with impeccable attention to detail and bursting with flavour. The chalkboard menu, ever-evolving to highlight the best of each season, ensures there’s always something new and exciting to try.

Service at the Tolcarne Inn was exemplary, with attentive staff who were knowledgeable about the menu and passionate about their offerings. Despite it being a busy Friday evening, the team maintained a friendly and efficient service, making us feel truly valued.

To top off the meal, the dessert was a visual and gastronomic treat. The rich, decadent chocolate tart with pecan topping and a scoop of creamy ice cream was the perfect end to our culinary journey.

Overall, the Tolcarne Inn exceeded all expectations. Its combination of top-notch food, excellent service, and picturesque setting makes it a standout destination in Cornwall. We left with our hearts and bellies full, eagerly anticipating our next visit.

Highly recommended for anyone visiting Newlyn – the Tolcarne Inn is a true hidden...

What a fantastic jewel of a pub in Newlyn, just next to Penzance. We booked in advance for a lunch on route to a short stay in nearby Mousehole. Reviews had suggested that The Tolcarne Inn was a really high quality ‘foodie’ pub and they were all absolutely right.

We received a warm welcome on arrival at the pub, in every way a quintessential Cornish seaside pub with a handful of drinkers and diners making up a relaxed and unstuffy atmosphere.

The food menu is excellent and, as expected, plenty of fresh fish offerings amongst others. The drinks menu offers a number of bottled beers, together with a couple of draught options as you would expect! Wine, sparking and spirits are plentiful too. Highly recommend the Cornish Sparking wine - very good indeed.

The food, though, is the real talking point. Outstanding in every way, from the taste of the fresh ingredients to the excellent presentation it was 10 out of 10 for everything. The lunch menu offering consists of a range of smaller, almost starter-size, dishes so we opted to order 5 plates for our family of 4, as well as bread to begin. This was perfect for a light but filling lunch.

We are always impressed when a pub like this, visually quite ordinary in many ways, doubles down on a high quality food offering. For those who like and appreciate an elevated gastro offering, this always seems to pay off and whilst we have no immediate plans to return to this area of Cornwall, we would wholly recommend The Tolcarne Inn for a first class...