Admiral Benbow in Cornwall, Isles of Scilly

Nice pub decorated like being on a boat. The waitress was friendly and the food was nice. We booked online through their website for a table for 4 on Sunday as we thought they'd be busy and had to pay £5 pp deposit to be deducted off the bill. When we got home Sunday night and looked at the receipt my partner said they hadn't deducted it.

Wonderful food, really good quality, big portions, great value for money. Completely recommended as a great option with unique surroundings and excellent atmosphere in Penzance

Went in for a couple of pints good selection of beers friendly people

Very quirky pub. Friendly staff.

Fantastically decorated with all things piratical and marine. The local spiced rum went down a treat.

My wife and I use this fabulous pub regularly for drinks and food and we are local living in Penzance. We absolutely adore the staff and Georgia and Chris are the most amazing hosts and anyone that will come in would be welcomed and made to feel absolutely special, the food is exceptional and the service is the same. We would recommend anyone go there for the amazing environment and the amazing service

Great pork belly sunday dinner, welcoming and friendly staff, nice atmosphere for a drink and quirky interior with lots of history. Thanks again!

Great and quirky place. Mate to feel really welcome. Staff exceptional. Recommended to anyone. If I lived here would be local haunt

We first visited on a holiday in Penzance, nearly 19 years ago, and while we hadn't been back in the meantime, hadn't forgotten the food and quirkiness. In August this year we spent a few hours in Penzance, so a fair chunk of that was spent trying to find this pub we remembered! We were so pleased we did - still great atmosphere, great service, great food. Hopefully it won't be 19 years before we're back next!

Nice pub in the city center of beautiful Penzance, love the ambience and food. Staff is friendly and professional too.

One of the most historic and amazing pubs I've ever seen. Here you immediately feel like a pirate or smuggler. We were lucky and it wasn't very busy, so you could look around everywhere. The Oktoberfest decorations didn't really fit in. And if the name Admiral Benbow sounds familiar, you should read “Treasure Island” by Stevenson again. THE pub is a must for anyone visiting Cornwall.

This seems to be a popular pub in Penzance which requires a booking deposit when making a reservation. There is also a disclaimer stating that your booking gives you 90 minutes to enjoy your meal. That being said, we had quite a lovely dinner in the Admiral Benbow. I ordered the mushroom penne, which was delectable, and even splurged on Sticky Toffee Pudding for dessert. We had a corner table, out of the way, which did seem a bit cramped getting in and out, but that didn't dampen our enjoyment. Dinner was served quickly and the waitress was extra attentive to everyone. I think they go out of their way to make it pleasant experience that gets the customers in and out in the time frame allocated so that they can get as many bookings as possible in an evening. Just walking through the restaurant is rather entertaining itself, and we were sure to check out some of the decor after our meal. If you are here on holiday, it's a great place to enjoy a delicious meal in an old pub that bursts with personality.

This is a very entertaining pub in which to enjoy dinner. The place is filled with pirate-like decor unlike nothing I've seen before. I enjoyed the mushroom penne, and decided to splurge for the sticky toffee pudding for dessert. It might be the best I've tried. Delectable! I could easily find a meal that would accommodate my capsicum allergy, unlike a couple of other places where we dined. The waitress was helpful in confirming my choice regarding my allergy. Dinner came quickly, and it's obvious that they do try to move people through the restaurant quickly to seat as many people as possible in an evening. But we never felt rushed. When you book online, you must pay a fee per person that is then subtracted from the total on your bill. The restaurant is located on a charming historic street not far from the promenade. A lovely and safe are to walk around.

I bloody bloody love this place. I wish I could take it with me!

Best pub ever. Adored it. Lush.

The character inside and outside the Admiral Benbow is amazing. Amazing food very good service. The staff are friendly and accommodating even if they are busy attending every ones request. Well done👏❤️

I was seat by the kitchen and watched mouth-watering plates emerge. Sadly, Sunday roast and sticky toffee pudding had sold out by the time I ordered. Instead, I had Newlyn hake, which was superb. Staff were very efficient and helpful. They did comment it was much busier than usual. Beer recommendations were excellent. Fun atmosphere, even a Singer sewing machine for pirates to make and repair their skull & crossbone flags.

What a lovely quirky pub in the middle of the town The food here is amazing best fish and chips and Mussels we have tasted not expensive either Well worth a visit if in Penzance if only for a drink

If you're in Penzance and you need a drink, it would be a crime not to have it in the Admiral Benbow.

Very quirky pub. I felt like I was on a pirate ship. Very traditional with friendly staff and good pub grub. Well worth a visit.

What fantastic service! This pub is a gem in the Cornish crown! Great food, incredible atmosphere and the service couldn’t have been more friendly and welcoming, despite being so busy. Looking forward to our next visit when visiting Cornwall.

Did not want our group of 10. We were told you can't just walk into a pub with that many and expect service. I asked for a recommendation of a pub nearby and they refused to recommend.

amazing experience, food was very good. what we enjoyed the most has been the atmosphere ... seems to stay in a very old pub in the harbor. the staff was fantastic, we have been served quickly.

Just been in there. The sour faced bar maid serving out us off eating. Need to get rid of her before we refruent. Looked an interesting place too. Shame.

Brilliant bar, made to feel welcome as soon as we walked in, and the food was spot on, no complaints at all

A Penzance must visit. Quirky, local, and welcoming. Very hard to characterise: locals and visitors mix. A good notch up from pub food. Pub dog, Cloudesley, knowingly named for the unfortunate Admiral Sir Cloudsesly Shovell, may visit your table but should not be fed - he won't hold it against you. Most of the artefacts adorning the pub are, surprisingly, authentic. Updated 2024 - still great!

Pub very interesting staff seemed to be lacking in customer care and the ability to relate, a take it or leave it attitude. Won't return or recommend

This is a great place to visit if you are in Penzance. Like being inside an old ship. The nutroast Sunday lunch was lovely. Very generous with plenty of veg. Some of our party had the fish and chips and said it was the best they had for a long time. The staff were very friendly and happy, which added to the ambience. We have been there many times and always an enjoyable experience.

We discovered this unique pub the first time we visited Penzance. The atmosphere & food has always been wonderful. More recently we visited for a special occasion & received the most thoughtful reception. As always the food was amazing & the staff so friendly. A real great family pub. The children loved it too! Thank you for making our special occasion one to really remember.

16th century pub lovely inside lots of memorabilia bar man could have been friendlier

We booked and were charged £5 deposit per person. Went on a Tuesday night, not sure how essential it was to book. Waiting staff who served us, was amazing, so friendly and bubbly, also very helpful with ordering. We were a family of 4 adults and 2 children. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meals, kids ate pizza, adults various starters and burger with chips or Hake with crushed potatoes and a brown butter sauce, very tasty, the fish skin was lovely and crispy. The pub is decorated throughout with ship memorabilia, it's very interesting and very atmospheric. Almost like dining in a museum. Would go again if we find ourselves in Penzance on another occasion.

A varied and extensive menu, well-kept types of beer (including " Früh-Kölsch " from Cologne!), friendly service in an ambience that brings the fictional characters from Stevenson's "Treasure Island" to life! This is the address you need to remember when you come to Cornwall.

Best fish and chips we had while in Cornwall. Such a quirky pub oozing character!! Lovely food... if anything its a little dark I side but adds to the atmosphere!

Nice pub and friendly no nonsense people

Cool unique pub. Wish the back was open and that the staff dressed more piratey. Otherwise very good...Yarrr!

An amazing location with great food, good hospitality and a quirky but historical atmosphere. We enjoyed some good food and were made very welcome.

Loved this pub as was so quirky, friendly never would of thought from the outside. Was a great place for a quick one, recommend this a must place to see 👍🏻

The Admiral Benbow is a fascinating pub, jump packed with seafaring knickknacks and set up a bit like a ship with lots of nooks and crannies. The serve three real ales which were all from local breweries and the two I tried were in top condition. Service at the bar was efficient but cold. The bar man pulled a good pint but wasn’t interested in any interaction beyond the transaction despite it being relatively quiet in the pub. I didn’t try the food. Overall I’d recommend visiting for the quirky interior and the good, local beer

A lovely old quirky pub, a little disappointed they didn't serve coffee.

Had been here many times before, but tonight was very disappointing. Ordered the chicken roulade, and was told by the waitress, it is being served with potatoes. The food arrived after about 40 minutes, but without potatoes. Being diabetic I need my carbs. From the moment, we asked for the potatoes, and after we were told we could buy an additional portion, we were just ignored. When we paid our bill we were told, the waitress was new, and didn't really know. No apologies, or reduction on the bill. And on top, the chicken roulade, served on a bed of broccoli, food was luke warm and tasteless.

Just went in for a sly pint and so glad I did. Coolest pub I've ever been in. Like the inside of a pirate ship.

Interesting and quirky place. Went in for a drink which was nice. Decentc selection of beer. Unfortunately the chat between bar staff and regulars was also pretty quirky. Made us feel pretty uncomfortable.

The most amazing pub we’ve ever been!!! I would rate the atmosphere 10 of 5!!! You feel like you’re inside the real ship - lots of details, lots of amenities, but the first and the foremost it’s like to be inside of the Stevenson’s Treasure Island book. Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum! Jamaican, served from cask!

Excellent service, pleasant atmosphere, friendly staff waitress went above and beyond to make sure the restaurant run perfect . Would recommend this quirky unique little pub as we was made to feel at home . Thanks to the bar man and waitress for all the effort they put in to make our visit pleasant.

This establishment first came to my attention through, YouTube, Trains Planes and Everything, featuring Scott Malone. When he drew his viewers to The Admiral Benbow, with his great review. So I just had to go there and I was not disappointed, it was one of my better decisions, for sure. This place, is the quaintanced place I have ever come across. The barman was so welcoming, and the chef, was terrific, I ordered fish and chips, featuring, tartar sauce, garden peas. Cooked to perfection, honestly, the fish just melted in your mouth. The fish wasn't the biggest by any means, but ,I was struggling, just to finish it. The bar had a great choice of beers,wines and spirits The toilets were ground leven, unlike some places where you have to climb 100 steps to heaven. The atmosphere was brilliant with background music to please most tastes. The menu had great variety, meat eaters and vegans alike. Some would say it was past it's sell by date but that's not true. It was full of character. At night it's best to book as I was informed it gets really busy. It's also dog friendly, down side it's a bit on the far side of town.

What an absolute little gem of a pub. Great character & good lager.

Didn’t book but had no problem finding a cosy table in the bowels of the pub. Pizza was great and served quickly with sticky toffee for pudding. The jungle soundtrack with tropical storm sounds was a bit odd though!!

What a disappointment! Seems very tired and run down. Food quality has definitely gone down since our last visit. Whitebait was soggy not crispy with a green salad that was so tired i would not have given it to our rabbit! The fish pie certainly looked the part and did have a better salad with it but it was a question of hunt the fish. A fishing area and next to no fish! No one asked if we enjoyed our meal so I didn't bother saying anything when i left. I wish I had!

Arrived 30 minutes before our booking to have a drink in what is advertised as a 'gastro pub'. It was full, but we found a seat before going to the bar to order a drink. The stressed barman insisted on payment because 'I have no idea where you will be sitting'. I approach the woman in charge of seating. She sighed heavily as if I were an unwelcome intrusion into her life. She subsequently calmed down and identified our table. By that time the restaurant was emptying rapidly but the wait for food and the lack of attention to detail were poor I had to search out staff to provide napkins, cutlery and eventually the bill. This is pub that offers quite good food served by staff that should really not be in the entertainment business. The management is terrible. It is certainly not a gastopub. Just another indifferent eating house manned by self-interested front of house staff. Shame on the owner. Buck up.

We had a delightful meal on a Saturday evening at this understated pub that, once inside, turns out to be a charming labyrinth of dining alcoves cobbled together from sailing ship relics. Service was prompt, knowledgeable and friendly. Drinks were generous. Food (fish-n-chips, mussels, hake, and salmon) was all delicious. We went back on the next day, but alas, on Sunday they only serve food 12-4 pm. Closed on Mondays.

I visited Cornwall for the first time and loved it. This pub & restaurant was recommended by someone who once lived in Penzance and highly rated it. How disappointing. I asked if I could book a table for one in 2 days time. I was handed a card and told to book on line. Was it too much trouble? You lost a customer; your loss.

All the staff was really lovely, the atmosphere cosy and the fish & chips the best we had during our stay in Cornwall!

We had made reservations for dinner, which is advisable. Unfortunately we didn't have such a nice spot in the corner, but at least one person could look into the room. The pub is decorated in a pirate atmosphere and the noise makes you think that Admiral Benbow and his crew are about to come in. Great! We had fish which was delicious. Unfortunately the oysters were out. One service person for the rooms wasn't enough; she had a lot to do. A recommendation to go because of the location.

Really quirky pub in Penzance. Only had a drink as they weren't serving food at lunchtime on the day we visited.

We had a delicious lunch of tasty fresh whitebait and a superb pizza, the authentic thin and crispy Roman style. Washed down with a couple of pints of Treen's Cornish beer 😋 All very reasonably priced. Georgia, who served us, is a credit to the AB. Thank you for a lovely afternoon.

Only got drinks but thoroughly impressed with the service and atmosphere of this pub. Well worth a visit. Hope to visit again soon 🦜

We called in here hoping that they could cater for vegans and veggies, and they did! We were served quickly and three of us ordered the coconut daal with tempura cauliflower. It was absolutely amazing! The other two in our party had the scampi and the haddock and chips. Both went down well. The lady serving was on her own but did a sterling job of keeping on top of the orders and it was good to see that two nearby tables booked up for other meals whilst they were there which says a lot. An amazing place packed full of nautical antiquities. Well worth a visit even if for a drink.

great friendly pub, the staff were fantastic and incredibly welcoming

Just a great pub, really good beers, always friendly and just super quirky

Found this gem wandering about then read previous reviews. It didn't disappoint they were very busy but managed to squeeze us in, my partner had the fish and chips and I chose the Piggly Wiggly pizza. It was excellent can't fault it at all. The atmosphere , decor and friendly and accommodating staff were excellent Would highly recommend.

Had a great time. Hake in brown butter sauce was some of the best fish I've ever had. Also they have a splendid dog who greets customers.

Great atmosphere - expect to meet smugglers at the bar! 😁

A must in Penzance for all Treasure Island lovers. The furnishings are lovely. There is a pirate waiting on the roof. The Guinness is fantastic in this setting, as is the fish and chips. Super nice service. Clear recommendation

Excellent food, beautiful pub, wonderful attentive service, thoroughly recommended but book in advance, it's worth every penny

Pub dates 1635 days of the pirates and smugglers.. We didn't eat there, don't think they were cooking. The carpet felt sticky. the other half said there was a sent of a smell.. the toilets were clean but very tired . Lovely quirkey pub of all things of the pirate ship. Get the feel they played sounds as if ya on a ship was ok but for a bit . The restaurant part was shut but quirky. It's quite dark, but I feel it's the feel of a ship inside. We've been but won't be going back. My own thoughts..

Popped in for a drink while walking Cozy to the max

Lovely pub, not just a novelty! Decent selection of beers

Great service and lovely food at good prices.

Historic pub, fantastically decorated with a true pirate/ship theme. Lovely restaurant area and cosy seating near the bar. Good selection of beers and spirits as you would expect.

We didn't have any food so can't comment but the venue is amazing, the restaurant looks brilliant and the service both efficient and friendly will have to wait until the next trip to sample the food

Lovely little tradition pub, food was good. Choice of drinks was superb, they even had some Traditional Cornish folk music live upstairs during my visit

Amazing pub restaurant that goes a long way back from the frontage. Obviously totally designed in the nature of the pirate world. When you get to the back it’s like being in a ship from hundreds of years ago. Food was good as was the choice of wines and beers.

A fabulous pub with truly exceptional food. The staff were really friendly and accommodating and the decor is very interesting. We came back several times during a long weekend stay in Cornwall.

This is quite simply my favourite ever pub. Fantastic, quirky decor, always friendly, excellent beer, superb food.

Extremely cosy and wonderful pub with lots of history. The drinks and food are tasty and service is great. Such a wonderful experience

Great bar. Friendly staff. Fantastic pirate theme . We visited here every day we were visiting Penzance and were never bored or disappointed. Didn't try the food but it looked fantastic.

What a place! So much to take in! The young woman behind the bar was very jolly and friendly. We enjoyed our short visit and would certainly visit again

Wonderful place, great atmosphere, really friendly owner.

I just drank beer The ambience is unique.

On road parking. Great interior, full of character. The staff (2 girls) were lovely, friendly, welcoming and professional. I have a life threatening food allergy and they communicated well with the kitchen. I had the pork belly (served on mash rather than red cabbage (my preference). The pork belly was served with apple sauce on top and some small batons of granny smith apple... a nice touch and truly delicious. The portion size was perfect as it left enough room for a dessert (sticky toffee pud) which was delicious.

A wonderfully atmospheric pub, with fantastic food and an utterly amazing authentic pirate 🦜 ship interior... so complete that slightly swaying lights would make you wonder if you'd actually set sail. An absolute must... with excellent staff who know all of their provisions (alcoholic and edible) SO well that they can specify percentages without even being asked! Sadly they lose one star for toilet smell (but suspect this was an unlucky day). Don't miss the chance to enjoy this experience ☠️🦜⚓

An amazing, charming, quirky pub that's well worth a visit.

Banger restaurant and pub, ten outta ten!

Had a pleasant beer. Nautical theme.

I didn't go for food, so can't rate that one. But all the staff are lovely and really good t their jobs. They put on really good nights and MrScratch is amazing. The venue is quirky, warm and friendly. One of my favourite places to go. Thanks to all the staff for a lovely experience every time, without fail. Customer of over 20 yrs. 🤍

Oh..my.. THE best roast dinner I've had out. Smells amazing, is seasoned well and cooked beautifully! You won't be disappointed :) Cosy place. Friendly service.

Went here twice in April 2024... First for beers then Sunday lunch because the food looked great. Sunday lunch was spot on, excellent portions and flavour. It's a great traditional pub and the staff were very friendly which was another reason we returned. Highly recommend.

Amazing place! Loved the interior, the whole menu all looked amazing, portions were huge! We'll visit again

A beautiful old pub. A great selection fo drinks available. Can't say how the food tasted as we didn't eat but the food did look good.

It was alright but nothing to write home about. The chips with the burger were very over cooked.....The fish and chips was nice but the peas were cheap and hard. They didn't give us a full portion of ice cream and they overcharged us by a couple of quid for the deserts. The new waitress who served us in the cold, no atmosphere 'dungeon' was nice though. 👍🏼As a local to PZ we deffo won't bother eating there again!! Not good

We found the Admiral Benbow by chance on a walk around Penzance but had heard about it and decided to visit for Sunday lunch. Well...Best decision ever!! We were greeted by really lovely people including the landlord. The atmosphere from decor-so quirky, to music-very chilled, was perfect. But....the food! The Sunday lunch was epic. I had roast chicken and my partner belly pork. The meat was moist and tender, the Yorkshire was huge and so soft and tasty The roast potatoes were also crisp and soft inside and the vegetables were also so well cooked and a good variety. Well done Admiral Benbow, so impressed ! 👏🏻

Following our last visit 45 years ago we are so pleased pleased this amazing pub has survived. Featured in the Good Pub Guide, this is a wonderfully quirky historic pub, a rabbit warren packed with nautical paraphernalia. Full of atmosphere with a range local real ales. Pub grub, doggy friendly and welcoming crew. 🇬🇧🇳🇿

This pub is a good reason to visit Penzance. It’s in a quirky, old building and the grub and alcohol is good. But the best thing is the service, which is delightful and friendly

Fantastic night of Cornish dancing with live music. Beautiful pub, great service.

We visited on recommendation but were disappointed. It's quirky inside, and the staff were fairly friendly but the Sunday roast fell down. The roast potatoes were excellent and the rest of the veggies okay but the chicken was not really edible. There was plenty of it but it was tough, tasteless and dry. I fed it surreptitiously to the pub dog. Its a nice dog, it did not in any way demand or hassle for food but when given ate it, and then gently padded away. (Generally even when I don't like food I will still eat it). The roast was £18 which is not cheap and under the circumstances very poor value. We were asked in a fairly cursory way if everything was okay, I decided not to say anything as I felt guilty feeding the dog, and having googled TripAdvisor while sitting there saw that there had been previous unpleasant episodes when negative feedback had been give. Maybe we just got unlucky regarding the chicken??

Really impressed with today's Sunday lunch for Mothers Day, hadn't visited the Benbow for years as I'm from Penzance and it definitely did not disappoint. Such a quirky place with very friendly service. We will return thank you x

Beautiful old pub food is great staff could try harder

I have been coming to this the best pub in Penzance for years now and really enjoy the atmosphere and food especially. The chef knows what he is doing and you can always rely on good food and presentation. Recently we thought we would try the pizzas and was delighted to find they are homemade with the thinnest delicious crusty crust and authentic Napoli topping. Well priced at £14. The staff are very friendly and helpful. Wouldn’t go anywhere else in Penzance now for a drink or food.

I didn't like it. The local beer is bitter. The table is sticky. There is not enough space, it is not comfortable to sit. Half of the stated menu is missing. Clearing is normal. We spent little, there was nothing to order

Loved the atmosphere of this pub. So much to look at.