If you want to stay in south Cornwall in winter without paying summer prices, a pub with rooms on the coast is the answer: The Rising Sun at Portmellon has sea-view rooms above the bar from £110 a night, room only, a mile from Mevagissey and a short drive from St Austell, the Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Here's what staying with us is like between November and March, and what's around you when you do.
What does "room only" mean, and why do you do it?
It means the room, the view and the pub downstairs, with no breakfast included and no breakfast price built in. We'd rather charge £110 than £140 with a fry-up you may not want. There's tea and coffee in the room, the kitchen does bar snacks, lunch and dinner, and Mevagissey harbour has cafés doing breakfast from early, a mile along the coast road or twenty minutes on foot.
What are the rooms like?
Upstairs, above the bar, with the sea outside the window. Portmellon is a small cove rather than a resort, so what you look at is water, rock, the beach and the weather. In winter that's the point: a storm coming in across the bay is better than television. The rooms have been refurbished and are quiet by 11pm even on music nights, because the bar is downstairs, not next door.
Dogs are welcome in the pub, by the fire, under the table, but not in the rooms. If you're travelling with a dog, our What's open in Mevagissey in winter post lists where else they're welcome locally.
Where exactly is Portmellon?
Portmellon is the next cove south of Mevagissey on the south Cornish coast, about a mile from the harbour by road or along the coast path. St Austell, the nearest town with a mainline station, is a short drive north. From the pub door you can walk the South West Coast Path in either direction: north to Mevagissey, south towards Gorran Haven and the Dodman.
Practical bits: there's parking at the pub, however it is not our carpark so its best to download the Sippi app to ensure you pay for your stay, alternatively there is a public residential road near the pub that you can park on if you can find a space, the nearest big supermarket is in St Austell, and the lane down to the cove is steep but fine in a car.
What is there to do nearby in winter?
More than people think. Within half an hour:
The Lost Gardens of Heligan are open all year and quieter in winter, with the jungle valley at its best when it's damp.
The Eden Project runs through the winter, with ice skating in the run-up to Christmas.
Mevagissey itself: working harbour, fish and chips, galleries, and pubs that stay open when the day-trippers have gone.
Charlestown, the Georgian harbour used for filming period dramas, with its tall ships.
Caerhays and Gorran Haven for beaches you'll have to yourself.
The coast path in both directions, and a drink by the fire when you get back.
We've written more on whether it's worth the trip in Is Cornwall worth visiting off-season?, and if you're coming in December, Christmas at The Rising Sun has the party nights and roast dates.
What's downstairs?
A free house on the beach: Cornish ales and lagers we choose ourselves, a kitchen doing small plates and Sunday roasts, and live music most Sunday afternoons. Winter opening hours are on the Eat & Drink page; the kitchen has shorter hours than the bar, so check before you arrive hungry.
How much does it cost and how do I book?
Winter rates start at £110 a night, room only. Book on the rooms page, or call 01726 473214 if you want to ask about a specific room or a longer stay. If you're coming for a Party Night or a Sunday roast, book the table at the same time; December weekends go.
The Rising Sun Inn, 2 Portmellon Park, Portmellon, Mevagissey, Saint Austell PL26 6PL.