Driftwood Spars in Cornwall, Isles of Scilly

I have both stayed and Eaten at the Driftwood Spars many times so didnt hesitate to book again for a family get together for a birthdy. I was extremley dissappointed with the food. It was expensive for what it was. a couple of us had scallops as a starter which was such a tiny portion it was ridiculous. For a main I had Monkfish which was a " special" and again a tiny portion, at £50.00 a head for 2 courses it was not value for money. Such a shame as Ive had fabulous food there before, but will think again before booking

This is the second time we have been here, the last being 5 years ago. The service and team were attentive and friendly. Bizarrely they use walkie talkies to communicate with the other floors - only problem was the volume was super loud! The food was at best average - my steak was warm, the risotto simply didn’t taste like risotto and the panna cotta was rubbery. Overall, a disappointing meal.

Dropped in for a few beers and a fish and chip supper - fish and chips were ok - chips were strange - felt like they must have been precooked and then reheated? just not fresh? Beers were great - proper draft ales served as they should be and plenty of choice too. Service was slow especially at the bar where they appeared to only have one ( not very experienced) girl working despite it being Christmas week and given how busy other local establishments were around the same time it was surprisingly quiet and actually bit sombre in this place - we've been coming to this pub regularly for many years and have heard that it's up for sale - to be honest you can sort of sense that when you go there at the moment.

A nice cosy pub with a warm welcome. Local beers and friendly people. We ate lunch here and it was very good. I would recommend.

First the positives. Very lovely old pub, everything a pub should be, old fashioned and cosy with very friendly staff. Two car parks locally, we visited in October and managed to park very easily but we’d been before during the first week of September and couldn’t park at all, so I wouldn’t ever come in the summer! I ordered a fish wrap, but unfortunately as soon as I took a bite, I knew the fish smelt and tasted ‘off’ so I sent it back. The waitress was lovely and deducted the food from the bill before bringing me a bowl of chips instead, but it wasn’t the greatest dining experience I’ve ever had. Lovely chips, however!

I was on a week's holiday with a friend and our cottage was a mere 5 minutes walk away! We visited three times during the week and had dinner thee on two occasions. The pub is lovely inside with a great atmosphere and serves beers brewed at the brewery just over the road. My friend developed a liking for Lou's Brew while my own favourite was Blue Hills and we both agreed that our beers were in excellent condition.

I was given a voucher for this place and I'm so glad I was. The staff are fab, the location is great with the beach just down the hill. There is a couple of small car parks but if you use the one opposite you will be given a voucher, the one a little down the road is free after 6pm. The food, OMG, the food was awesome. The nicest garlic bread we have ever had . . . EVER. I opted for the ploughman's and he had the sole, both were to die for.

We are a family of 4 and we had Sunday lunch here today. What a mistake!! The beef was lukewarm and had no flavour whatsoever. The roast potatoes were overdone and tasteless obviously reheated from frozen and the yorkshire pudding was overdone and again reheated. I honestly can't understand the good reviews on here. It was atrocious, never again!! The 1 star is for the lovely barmaid.

We were staying overnight at the Driftwood which was a nice experience and had reserved a table in the main bar in the evening but the food was dreadful. Goodness knows what the chef was thinking. We both had the mussel and seafood pasta and struggled to eat even half of it. Just chopped up fish mixed with pasta and half the mussels were inedible. And expensive! We ordered a crumble for after which was disappointing as well. But the staff were so lovely and warm that we didn't like to say anything.

What a great find didn’t even know this gem existed been coming to perranporth for years and wow what a lovely surprise FABULOUS My partner had a fish dish starter and a fish mains I myself had the Sunday lunch it was amazing deffo back next year x the staff are lovely too

Very friendly service and very good food. The beers were local, being brewed in the pub, and on a sunny evening it was perfect. We had beers initially then decided to stay for food - good choice!

A quick pit stop for liquid refreshment during a family trip. One of the best selections of local beers we came across whilst in Cornwall. The beer garden was really good especially with the added outside bar. Staff were great. A lovely spot for a beer or two!

Great food and service. We had fish & chips and it was lovely! We brought our dog and sat outside. The vibe was perfect for a night out, very chilled and relaxing.

Great selection of beer - had fish and chips which was delish especially the homemade tartar sauce however the peas are really not great tasteless and had clearly been Nuked in the microwave Staff are hit and miss -some charming others moody/sullen

Visited the Crib Shack - just opposite the pub. It sells drinks, coffee, snacks and iceream (and I think food from the pub menu). We had great coffee and snack. Friendly service and reasonably priced. There's plenty of space, tables and umbrellas. Plus if you get lucky there's deckchairs on the roof of the shack. Really loved this spot for its laid back beachy vibe and will be back for another visit soon.

I wanted to take my wife for her birthday to go see the live music on the 8th of March but online it stated that it was a standing up event. Since she still had back pain from a fall she had she cannot stand for too long. I explained this by email and was hoping that we could work something out for her. Liam immediately replied to us and went above and beyond and booked us a table so that she could have a seat while enjoying the performance. Because Liam was so friendly and professional we cancelled our dinner at another restaurant and asked him too also book us a table for dinner. The food was out in 5 mins and the portions were very generous. The lady who brought the food was very friendly and served us with a big smile. When we got upstairs Liam was there shaking our hands and gave us a warm welcoming, he even had our table reserved right in front by the stage. Liam also sorted our voucher out for our parking as we left. The hospitality that we received from Liam was better than we expected and for this reason we will be back.

Were unable to park in St Agnes when we visited the area in July last year. No problem in February though. Just had a few drinks but really enjoyed our visit. Staff friendly and great atmosphere in this characterful bar.

I had one night here and it was a last minute thing with little thought or research.. Really happy with the location, under 150 yards off the beach, they take dogs. Room was clean and was well set out. Parking is assigned to rooms. People seemed so genuine and helpful and brekkie was lovely. At night I had the Thermadore which was delicious too as was the cheeseboard!! I will return. Thank you to all the staff.

Don't go here if you want a parking fine. It's known for it. I am now local and will never use the place because of what happened. October 23. Wanted somewhere for a birthday meal/ event. I parked...disabled bay with blue badge. Staggered to the place and asked to see the manager. 'not available '. I left. A month later.... parking fine. I paid,rather than have the hassle. Three months later, with evidence of cheque payment their employed parking firm says I haven't paid. Go somewhere else. Just not worth the hassle. I am just letting people know...and locals already do it seems.

Just had a lovely weekend at this lovely hotel. Friendly staff and relaxed atmosphere. We have been before and would definitely return . Thank you.

Was issued with a fine by TPS parking services even though the machine wasn't working! We were identified via the ANPR system and received a notification some weeks later. What is particularly frustrating is that there was a member of the pub staff in the car park who we spoke with who said they were aware of the machine not working and not to worry about it. TPS claim their record show other visitors did pay successfully at the machine - when we were there there were a number of others who, like us , were unable to pay. TPS refused my appeal and said we should have paid by phone if card payments were unavailable - I do not remember seeing any facility to do this. If anybody else was unable to pay at lunchtime on 15/9/2023 I hope this may add weight to any other appeals.

We have had a fish and chip lunch today as we have had the same here before and it was good. Today however was a disappointment. The fish was whiting which i have to say was not my favourite and the chips were what i can only describe as gritty. Nearly every mouthfull had something gritty about it. They were like packet chips of different sizes and that may account for the quality. Some had skin on and lots of bad bits still left in them as if they had been cut in a machine in a factory that did not wash them properly or remove any bad bits. The pub bar seating also was really dirty looking the cushions in the bar seating area had bits of food on them and just looked and felt dirty. I know it is dark in the bar but there is no excuse not to look after it or keep it clean. Not the sort of enviroment you want to spend £38 on a very average lunch. Such a shame because the village is lovely.

Went down for bonfire night with low expectations and boy was I right. The firework display was organised by what I can only describe as "locals" who were probably paid by cheap beer, the lack of brain cells between them lead to a firework being fired into the crowd and injuring some children, luckily I kept my offspring out of harms way (meaning away from the locals) and survived unscathed, maybe the owners consider professionals next year or at least people born in Cornwall as we have some common sense.

Three nights here in a very comfortable room quietly over looking the sea was really enjoyable. The bathroom was modern, and everything worked well, including the heating! Food and drink were equally good (the pub's own brewery is noteworthy), and there is an extensive choice of whiskies and gins (including Dutch). The slightest irritation was having to log onto the Wifi every day, but in no way a deal beaker. We'll be back without doubt.

Occasionally I need a break from cooking. My wife booked here for Sunday lunch. Good beer, a nice wine list and very good service all contributed to the experience. The food was about average but the quantities were good. I can only score the food as average because I could do better myself but it was nice not to have to make the effort for a change. On the whole I would suggest this is worth a try.

I recently stayed at Driftwood Spars for 2 nights as my niece's wedding was taking place there. It's a lovely characterful building in a fantastic location just a couple of minutes walk down to St. Agnes beach. All the staff I encountered were very friendly and helpful. My room was in the main building (there are also annexe rooms) and was spotlessly clean, bright and well appointed with a small TV, plenty of hanging space, iron & ironing board, a kettle, mugs and a selection of drinks. The bed was comfy and the shower room was clean and modern. My favourite part of the hotel was the lovely breakfast room which had coastal themed decor and huge windows looking towards the sea. A very varied cooked breakfast was available but had to be booked the day before. There was also toast and ceral if you wanted something lighter. Last but not least, this was a beautiful venue for the wedding. Thankfully we were blessed with amazing sunny weather so it could take place in the elevated garden with the sea as a backdrop. Just perfect!

We had a cracking meal at the driftwood. I had the baked brie and nduja to start which was perfect, whilst my parent had the scallops and said they were so tasty! All the mains where really nice and the service from paige was also really good. To be honest all the staff where really nice and friendly. The only downside was the sticky toffee pudding. We expected this to be your regular warm sticky toffee pudding served with clotted cream, however what we got was more of a trifle. A few small bits of cold sticky toffee between 2 scoops of ice cream in a trigle glass. It was still nice, but should probably explain on the menu exactly what it is.

Came for lunch today. Parking was easy and free in the car park next door We shared a ploughman’s- and I don’t say this lightly- I think it might be the best one I’ve ever had!!! Absolutely blooming delicious We could just see the sea from the beer garden and had a little stroll to the beach afterwards Perfection!

I'm giving Drifwoord Spars a 1 star review because of their ANPR-based parking, having had a meal there in August I have received a parking charge today despite the machine being out of order and despite me going back into the bar to ask how to ensure I didn't get a parking charge. I know companies don't like 1 star reviews!, well drivers don't like unfair parking charges either. If your machine is out of order turn the ANPR off or you cause every client to have to go through an appeal process The meal was ok, but the after taste is something to be desired

We love St Agnes and we love the Driftwood Spars, it’s our first call every single time we visit the area (twice a year). It has an idyllic setting, brews it’s own beers as well as having a fab selection of other drinks, including a multitude of gins! They lost a star from us this time as 4 of the 6 meals arrived promptly whilst the other 3 arrived 45 minutes later, effectively meaning we didn’t eat together. We were disappointed by the lack of concern shown by the servers and the excuse that loads of other orders arrived whilst we were ordering didn’t really make too much sense. I wouldn’t put anyone off a visit but holidaying customers shouldn’t be treated 2nd best.

My daughters wedding. Absolutely excellent, all staff went above and beyond. Could not fault a single thing. So clean, beautiful food and wonderful service from all. Would definitely recommend 100%. Thankyou for making the wedding so memorable

Lovely traditional low beam ceiling pub over two floors with a large outside space for the summer. The staff are friendly and helpful. Sunday roast was delicious and well presented. Added bonus this is 100feet from the beautiful beach. It is also a hotel

Amazing Sunday lunch, we also called back in the week and sat in the beer garden for some food and drink .. again amazing . Thank you

Fantastic meal out - really very tasty food - one of the best meals I’ve ever had out - and great staff. Lovely spot in St Agnes

Order was not complete. Drinks were not filled. Food was not warm. Server was rude. Don’t waste your money on this overpriced place. Probably the worst dinning experience my family has experienced in a long time. I was embarrassed that I had chosen this place.

Visited on a couple of occasions while staying in St Agnes. Enjoyed some lovely ale ( recommend the Sea Shanty) and good food. Drank in the bar (really welcoming and friendly) and enjoyed the ambience. Very much a traditional pub, popular with locals which added to its appeal.Ate in the top bar and enjoyed attentive service in cosy surroundings on what was a very wet and windy night. The staff were again friendly and efficient. The food was well cooked and I particularly enjoyed the sea trout on crab risotto from the specials board. Delicious. A beautiful location in the Cove so perfect for surfers and coastal walkers (or indeed anyone living/staying in the area).

We had dinner at the driftwood spars on Saturday 30th July the atmosphere, food and staff were all amazing. I had sea bass off the specials menu and it looked so good I tucked in before I took a photo. My husband had fish and chips which was way better than your average fish and chips. My son had Arancini chips, sunblushed tomatoes and olives. I can’t fault it. It was a busy Saturday night we were walk ins service was quick, food was beautifully presented and staff were really friendly. We will definitely be back.

We booked in advance and as we're both o crutches parked in the car park behind the Crib Shack. Be sure to get your voucher for free parking. The bar maid was super helpful as we are both injured and brought all our drinks to...

Had a fantastic lunch here last Thursday, 20th July. I had a grilled Cornish Sole with stem broccoli, paprika new potatoes in a white wine and cream sauce and my wife had dressed crab, super salad and rustic chips all served by friendly attentive staff....

Food average price and quality but customer service vastly needs improving. Male member of staff couldn’t address my order over the bar, he expected me to shout my order across the bar and when questioned I was told ‘I can hear you from here’ …....

Sorry but really poor service. The staff seem to have an attitude problem Rude,serlly and obnoxious to any questions that were asked them with sharp sarcastic replies. Our food arrived and mine was cold although everyone else's was good. We stayed up the road so...

So booked a table. Not being local and it was obvious in the way we was treated. 6 people served whilst my mum waited patiently to ask about the table to be greeted by an extremly rude lady with short hair saying you havent got...

In spite of it taking nine hours to reach the property in the seaside community of St Ágnes in Cornwall, it was well worth the long journey. My Swedish Fiancée and I visited Driftwood Spars for a family wedding spending two nights there. We had...

Had a fantastic visit here, my wife and I took Mum for lunch and a catch up. The welcome was relaxed and friendly, the setting very cosy, and the food was outstanding - crab starter and ‘catch of the day’ for main, exceptional.

We decided to stop off here en route back home from Cornwall. Its in a good location just a short distance from the beach and coastal walks and there's a good parking facility across the road. Found the staff to be friendly and helpful. The...

Very chaotic on trying to get served and order food. Staff didn’t seem to be trained and weren’t concentrating on what people were ordering. However, didn’t have to wait too long for food to arrive which was a plus but it was pretty average (would...

A very poor Ploughman’s lunch. A chunk of cheddar cheese served with three pieces of cheap supermarket baguette, some salad leaves with no dressing and a tiny ramekin of tomato chutney. It didn’t look very appetising and tasted very bland. For the cost I would...

Terrible service. Food arrived at separate times for our table of 5. Two of us ordered Bouillabaisse. The traditional accompaniment to bouillabaisse is baguette slices to dip into the broth. When our bowls eventually arrived, I asked the waitress if we could have some bread....

I stayed in Driftwood Spars for 5 nights in their single room over Easter break. Absolutely lovely place to stay. I was made to feel welcome and well looked after from start to finish, including my dog. The food was exceptionally good and the staff...

Wir waren während unserer Reise zweimal hier. Beides mal mit guten Erfahrungen. Einmal in der Top Bar (kleiner über der...

Popped into the Driftwood Spars having been walking the dogs at nearby Wheal Coates/SW Coast Path. A beautiful traditional pub with the advantage of having its own aligned micro-brewery across the road so the beer is top notch. The menu was really nice and we...

Lovely location near the sea. Hotel run very efficiently by Louise. Room was comfortable although can be cold and heating cannot be adjusted by guests. Due to electrical problem we had Ploughman’s for our evening meal. Was good food but expensive. Highly recommend the Driftwood

Stayed here with friends and it has very comfortable accommodation, a good breakfast with plenty of choice and the pub is great with good food and beers

Nice old big old fashioned pub. Heavily commercialised to attract as many people as possible but understandable given the location. Dinner was pricey but nice, £20 ish for all the adult main dishes but you don’t go hungry. Had the lamb which was delicious but...

We visited a couple of times when staying nearby . Good selection of real ales ,some brewed onsite . Nice to have a flight yo try 3 beers . Very tasty light lunch with well presented food Main bar us very small with only a...

Drove down to St Agnes and found this Pub. Was totally unsure from the outside about going in. But could see the staff were very busy with food being brought outside. Entered and was told All the tables were reserved. However the staff could not...

I’ve had drinks at the Driftwood before and it’s nice that they have a brewery on site. 9 of us went for a Mother’s Day lunch today and it was all really good. The pork roast was incredible and probably the nicest piece of pork...

We discovered St Agnes and Driftwood Spars when we visited North Cornwall recently. We instantly fell in love with St Agnes and the location of Driftwood Spars. Without any recommendation or prior knowledge we decided to stay at Driftwood Spars for 3 nights that's me,...

Lovely, friendly staff, good beer but the food was dire. Well, the teaspoon size mackerel pate etc was ok but pate really needs some toast fingers to set it off - a sourdough crouton constituting less than a mouthful was not what was needed. On...

We have been here twice now for two of their comedy nights and they never disappoint. The tickets are great value, there as a bit of an issue this weekend with the headliner not being able to make it because of the snow but we...

In a large family group for Sunday lunch. Excellent quality food throughout with good sized portions, good value and flawless service by very helpful and friendly staff.

Stunning family pub that is the heart of the community - an awesome fireworks display for Bonfire Night thrown in too. Amazing location, right next to one of the most beautiful beaches in Cornwall.

Amazing venue! Brilliant staff, delicious food, lovely comfy rooms and idlic location. We stayed and had our wedding here and it was a dream , staff couldn't do enough and venue was perfect and so relaxed!

After a coastal path walk we all enjoyed an alfresco drink in the sunshine, so much gin to chose from

Not sure that this is even legal nowadays but it certainly doesn’t make your business feel appreciated!?!? Anyway that aside had an Evening meal - fish and chips and sea bass Sea bass was tiny but tasted good - fish and chips was again tiny...

We stayed for 2 nights, and being right by the coast and having the restaurant available meant that we could park up in allotted space, and then enjoy coastal walks without driving anywhere until we left. The room was clean and pleasant . I didn’t...

Just had Sunday lunch.roast beef. The veg were good ..roasties hard..Yorkshire hard...roast beef very chewy and stringy !! Complained and more beef was brought to us ..not much better ! No apology and no refund or free drink !! Won tbe dining there again

A lovely old pub with a nice atmosphere. A good range of beers are available and I was offered a taste before I bought. The service at the bar was friendly and helpful. We ordered the chicken and bacon wraps from the menu but were...

Beers are great but the food is poor the place everything feels grubby and the staff are surly and disinterested.

We went for Sunday lunch and the choice was limited before we started. The food choice was supposed to be served till 8. We were there at 5:30pm. There was no pork only beef. We went with the only option . The beef was ok....

Had fish and chips here-very nice and very fresh. Good local ales. Very traditional, just what you wish to find on a Cornish holiday. Over the road they have a beer garden with a bar so all very well set up. If you have been...

Had lunch here recently and the food was amazing. Will return next time I'm in the area. Service was quick, drinks where just the right temperature.

Visited here everyday (evenings) for the past week whilst we were on hols with my Husband and Son. Superb location whilst coming up from a day at the beach but also in nice walking distance from us whilst staying at our accommodation. We are here...

B§B et pub après le village de St Agnès, juste avant la plage de sable ! Chambre petite mais confortable....

We stopped here for lunch after a morning at the beach. It’s in a prime position being so close to the beach. Some tables at the outside bar were reserved but it was easy on a sunny Sunday to find a free one. There was...

Dropped by after a day at the beach, drive right to the bottom of the hill from the village . The pub has parking and free if you spend £10 . We sat outside in the area across the road , very friendly welcome ....

Two nights were long enough to reaffirm what others have said: this is a well-run, friendly inn offering a high standard of hospitality. The meals taken were ipping hot and most toothsome, two essentials. Fish and chips was deemed the best ever; I can vouch...

If you're staying in North Cornwall, I would definitely recommend this pub. Food is great, staff are friendly and attentive and the decor is traditional and gorgeous. Feels sooo Cornish. Decent parking too.

Walked the coastal path from Perranporth to St Agnes and stumbled upon this place…what a fab find! Amazing beer / ale (shame a random gust of wind blew my second pint over) husband had the fish and chips which he enjoyed enormously, apparently the tartar...

Just back from holiday in Cornwall. Had two dinners at the Driftwood Spars and both were absolutely gorgeous...really good quality. You can tell the chef cares about food. Fish and chips were beautiful, really tasty potatoes used for the homemade chips and the fish was...

We are usually a fan of this pub having left a really good review before now. We recently returned there in April expecting the same atmosphere but it seems greed has taken over. the food is now very expensive and very average. What a shame.

What an amazing pub. Food was delicious and the staff amazing. Thank you Lexi for sharing your humour and keeping us entertained. we will certainly be coming back.

As you’d expect in Cornwall, the fish & chips were incredible! Plenty of drinks to choose from and a lovely outdoor seating area just 2 minutes the St Agnes beach. We’ll definitely return next time we’re in Cornwall.

Nice to sit outside in the sun with a craft beer or two! Also spent a few hours inside on another day -very good atmosphere and charming staff

Had a lovely lunch in this beautiful pub it’s so full of history and the staff are very pleasant and helpful

Quaint old pub with own brewery. Good selection of real ales. Food not bad. We stayed in room 14, which is a block of 3 with their own shared garden. Breakfast was good. The only things that let it down was being asked to put...

Since we were staying nearby for a week I booked a table for an evening. We were seated in the upper bar. This was quite small, cluttered and not very clean. We both had fish and chips which were pretty average, the chips being extremely...

The place is essentially a pub with rooms and a restaurant. Room was very comfortable (but probably on the small side for more than one person) - good shower. Breakfast was ok and my one dinner was good and value for money. The top thing...

What a disappointing visit ,nothing complicated ordered ,Hummus, olives oil and bread all good so far Fish cakes really small no fish no seasoning sauce really nice . Fritto Missto ,shocking £16 tiny tiny bits of overcooked fish 2 small squid rings rustic chips where...

We came here on three occasions during our stay locally and to say it was unwelcoming would be unfair but it wasnt great. It appears the bar area tables are reserved for locals so we were sent off to the back room with the tourists...

I think I have said it all in the title. For the price I suppose it was close to value for money. Would not recommend it. Sorry.

First time staying in St Agnes so tried local pub and the initial welcome was so warm that we felt comfortable straight away. Jo was lovely, just started working at the pub and told us about various walks to try around Cornwall. Had a great...

We popped in a few times, but ate on Sunday and had the roast. I had the vegetarian Wellington which was amazing and my partner had the beef. Both of us thoroughly enjoyed the range of vegetables offered which included cauliflower cheese. They also offer...

Good Sunday lunch in quaint pub. We had read about it so decided to give it a try in a cold windy day in early December. Parking opposite gives you a couple of hours free parking if you are spending some time & money at...

I have loved this pub and have had many good experiences here drinking, dining and staying overnight while in St Agnes. Not so last week. Popped in for a drink on a quiet Saturday afternoon. Only one table occupied in the main bar but we...

We visited by accident, as we just wanted see St Agnes and the cove. The pub is lovely and the staff are really nice, friendly and helpful. We had a lovely drink and great meal. We will definitely visit again. Highly recommend.

Just a really lovely pub . Very traditional lovely setting with outdoor seating available. Just a bit disappointed by the prices being so high . If they were more reasonable I’d have had another … I don’t enjoy being ripped off however so it’s a...

Another lovely autumn break at this fab pub on the coast. The staff are all so friendly even after a very hard year for them. It’s gone from home for us now and you can’t beat the location and St Agnes.

I loved this place when I used to come here every year. Was turned away as food orders not taken after 2.30…. Surely the trip advisor info should indicate food not served all day… drove back to st Ives…. And ate ….. what a shame.

Our friends stayed here whilst we had a B&B "up the hill", so we joined them for dinner. OK it was the end of the season, late September and quiet. The staff were helpful and friendly but there was a lack of atmosphere in the...