Pubs in Mevagissey: An Honest Local Guide (From the Pub Down the Road)

Mevagissey has around half a dozen pubs and bars within a few minutes' walk of the harbour, from old fishermen's locals on Fore Street to harbourside bars. A mile south, on the beach at Portmellon, is The Rising Sun, the 17th-century free house we run. This is our honest guide to all of them: what each is like, who it suits, and which to pick for a roast, a pint of real ale, live music, a view or a room for the night.

We'd rather you found the right pub than pretended we're the only one. Mevagissey is small enough to try three in an evening.

Which pubs are in Mevagissey itself?

• The Fountain Inn, Cliff Street. Low beams, slate floors and the remains of an old pilchard press in the Smugglers' Bar. It's widely called Mevagissey's oldest pub (reputedly 15th century) and it's the town's Good Beer Guide entry. A St Austell Brewery house, family- and dog-friendly. Go for: real ale and character.
• The Ship Inn, Fore Street. The big old town-centre pub, Grade II listed, with an open fire, slate floors and smuggling stories. A St Austell Brewery house known for fish and chips, with live music on Saturdays. Go for: a proper harbour-town pub night.
• The Harbour Tavern, Jetty Street. Right on the waterfront, with sport on the telly, darts and live music or karaoke at weekends. Go for: a lively local with the harbour outside.
• The Cellar Bar, St George's Square. A modern split-level bar with a small beer garden. Go for: a late one with friends.
• The Sharksfin, The Quay. A restaurant and bar in two old harbourside warehouses, fish-led and recently refitted. Go for: eating with the boats in front of you.
• The Kings Arms, Fore Street. Now an independent pub, bakery and wine shop running seafood supper evenings. It's worth checking when it's open before you go. Go for: something different.

For where to leave the car, see our Mevagissey parking guide. If it's chips you're after, see the best fish and chips in Mevagissey.

What about pubs just outside Mevagissey?

• The Rising Sun, Portmellon (that's us). A mile south along the coast road, or twenty minutes on foot. It's a free house on the beach: the bar looks straight out on Portmellon Cove. More below.
• The Barley Sheaf, Gorran Churchtown. A free house built in 1837 and still run by the founding family. It's in the Michelin Guide, with real ales, a garden and a skittle alley. Go for: a serious dinner inland.
• The Polgooth Inn, Polgooth. A big country pub towards St Austell with acres of garden, animals for the kids and glamping. Go for: families.
• The Crown, St Ewe. A food-led village pub near the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Go for: lunch after Heligan.

Which Mevagissey pub has a sea view?

The harbour pubs look over boats and the inner harbour. If you want open sea and a beach, it's Portmellon. The Rising Sun's bar sits just above the cove, and in winter you can watch the weather come in across the bay from a seat by the window.

Which pubs near Mevagissey are free houses?

A free house isn't tied to a brewery, so it chooses its own beer (here's what that means). Around Mevagissey, the Rising Sun and the Barley Sheaf are free houses. The Fountain, the Ship, the Polgooth Inn and the Crown at St Ewe are St Austell Brewery pubs, which is no bad thing if you like Tribute and Proper Job.

Which Mevagissey pubs are dog-friendly?

Most of them. The Fountain, the Ship, the Harbour Tavern, the Cellar Bar and the Sharksfin (on a lead) all welcome dogs, and so does the Rising Sun, where most Sunday afternoons there are more dogs than musicians. Our dog-friendly Portmellon guide covers the beaches and walks too.

Where can I get a Sunday roast near Mevagissey?

We do one every Sunday from 12 to 3, with live music from 3pm. The full rundown is in where to get a proper Sunday roast near Mevagissey. It's worth booking in winter.

Which pubs near Mevagissey have rooms?

A few of the town pubs let rooms, and the Wheelhouse on West Wharf is a guesthouse with a seafood bar. At the Rising Sun we have two sea-view rooms upstairs, room only, from £110 a night in winter. Dogs are welcome in the pub but not in the rooms.

Where's best for live music?

The Ship and the Harbour Tavern for Saturday nights in town. The Rising Sun for Sunday afternoons, a month-end night and our Christmas Party Nights. See which pubs near Mevagissey have live music.

So which Mevagissey pub should I go to?

• Real ale and history: the Fountain.
• A big night in town: the Ship or the Harbour Tavern.
• Dinner worth driving for: the Barley Sheaf.
• Kids and space to run: the Polgooth Inn.
• A pint on the beach, a roast, a band on a Sunday, and a room if you'd rather not drive: come down the road to us.

Still deciding whether to visit at all? Read our honest take: is Mevagissey worth visiting?

The Rising Sun Inn, 2 Portmellon Park, Portmellon, Mevagissey, Saint Austell PL26 6PL · 01726 473214 · Book a table