The Three Pilchards in Cornwall, Isles of Scilly

We were recommended to dine here and it didn’t disappoint! The service was genuine and friendly! It was an early bite to eat after a busy day exploring! Even at 5.30 pm the place was full, just a short wait for a table. The fish n chips were just delicious. What an absolute delight to eat such delicious fresh fish next to the most beautiful harbour! I’m just pleased I left my husband to tackle the large portion - it was Huge! Can’t recommend enough! Cosy, bustling and a real gem of a place! 🐳⚓️🐟💕

Very friendly welcome when we went for evening meal. Fish pie was amazing and my husband really enjoyed the scallops and prawns. Puddings were also fantastic. Very cozy, traditional pub and very busy on Friday evening. Highly recommend.

Been 3 years since our last visit and the place is still as charming as ever We had a short wait for a table while we had a look around outside Was nice to see the pub full and all the different languages we heard while waiting.We ordered our food which came piping hot glad We only ordered the regular fish not the large lol Just managed to eat it and was very enjoyable Lovely food great atmosphere beautiful surrondings will be back again

What a find, not only the oldest pub in Polperro but it has the friendliest staff. The food was delicious, the service was fabulous and quick. Warm and cosy atmosphere, a wonderful afternoon.

Very nice old inn, tucked away just off the pretty harbour. Friendly and welcoming. Great crab bisque, fantastic fish pie and perfectly cooked salt and pepper squid . Good beer selection. Well worth a visit if you are in the area.

Fantastic Staff, fantastic atmosphere, fantastic food and really considerate to the fact that I have to use a scooter, being disabled. Cannot fault this place in any way!

Great atmosphere. Food looked good, while we had only a drink...

Fortunate to get a table as we walked in. Served a good pint of Guinness and a local ale for one of our party (offshore). We ate fish pie (which was huuuuuge and very, very tasty), cajun halloumi burger, fish and chips (medium and was plentiful) and prawns and scallops in garlic sauce. All of these were excellent. Great crispy batter on the fish and the fish was thick and very well cooked. Cajun halloumi burger was well spiced and served with some pickles and a great sauce. The prawns and scallops sounds a little odd but again, was well cooked, succulent and a great accompanying salad. The dish of the day was the fish pie for one that could feed four! Great flavours, lots of filling and perfectly seasoned. Really good value. Atmosphere was great and it's a proper cornish pub! Highly recommend 👌

I do not usually have fish and chips in a pub but given the location, went for it. Fabulous. Would have it again

Nice pub food good staff very friendly

We called in here the other evening for a drink, ended up having food. Service was really good, attentive but not over the top chatty/jokey and dog friendly which is a massive winner for us. The food was so good ! Fish & chips, fish pie and chicken strips. All tasted fresh and just really nice. Can not recommend enough, somewhere we will definitely return too.

Totally love this place. We now make it a tradition to visit for lunch on our last day of hollibobs. We are super lucky as it's our fifth visit this year. Highly recommend the Ploughman's & beef burger!

Cozy atmosphere, very good food and nice wine, dogs welcome, vegetarian options, and a nice crew that is very attentive in the service

Unfortunately, our food was near terrible, halloumi starter was extremely over done, all chips on 3 meals cooked over and in dirty oil, awful taste. Fish pie was lovely. Everyone else's meal was not nice. Expensive for what we had. I wouldn't rush back after being recommended the place.

We come here every year and normally have a super meal but unfortunately this year wasn’t good. I had fish and chips, fish was gorgeous but the chips were awful. They’d been cooked and left, shrivelled and dried up, then were reheated, so when I got them they were very hard and dry. Couldn’t eat then. Did politely tell the waitress.

We had 3 meals 3 Pilchards. within our weeks, stay in Polperro fish pie and fish and chips best we have ever had 10/10. Ploughman meal disappointing. Wines white and red good standard. All the staff were very welcoming and made Rosie feel comfortable. We will be back...

The food was delicious. I had the crab bisque followed by the 5 tiger prawn and 5 scallops. The chips with the latter were superb. Even though they were very busy, service and food were very quick.

Lovely old pub, good selection of local cornish beers, staff are amazing will definitely be coming back.

Love this pub and roof top garden .

Absolute gem of a pub, staff so friendly, food fabulous, lovely atmosphere and dog friendly, a must visit pub in a beautiful village

Very rustic and traditional little pub, great service, fine food, large selection of beer. The fish pie was excellent.

Amazing fish and chips. Food was hot. Service excellent.

A Must-Visit in Polperro: The Three Pilchards Polperro is known for its charming seaside setting and abundance of eateries, but The Three Pilchards truly stands out, particularly in the area of warm hospitality. From the moment we stepped through the door, we were greeted with a genuine welcome and promptly guided on where to sit and when someone would be with us. It’s little touches like this that immediately make you feel at ease. The atmosphere is steeped in character, reminiscent of a time long past. Unlike some places that seem to dress up for the tourist trade, The Three Pilchards feels authentic, with its old-world charm and coastal pub vibe creating a wonderful backdrop for our visit. After a long walk along the coastal path from Looe to Polperro, the locally brewed Offshore beer was a much-needed refreshment. It was crisp, light, and utterly refreshing—the perfect way to relax after taking in the breath-taking views along the trail. The food? Simply superb. I opted for the Stilton & Bacon Burger, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Juicy, packed with flavour, and cooked to perfection, it was exactly what I needed to recharge. The balance of the rich Stilton with the smoky bacon was spot-on, making every bite a real treat. What makes The Three Pilchards even more special is the attentive and friendly staff. They were always on hand to help and seemed genuinely eager to ensure we had the best possible experience. Whether it was offering menu suggestions or simply checking in on how we were enjoying everything, their service added to the welcoming atmosphere. If you’re visiting Polperro, The Three Pilchards should be at the top of your list. Between the exceptional food, refreshing local beers, and the warm, inviting atmosphere, it’s the kind of place you’ll want to return to again and again. A true gem on the Cornish coast!

Really delicious food but limited menu for a shipping town. Staff were all lovely with out 1 year old

People must be easily pleased if they think the food is good,half of the menu was unavailable and what did turn up was at best poor overcooked rubbish

Outstanding in all aspects. A wonderful pub dating from the early 16th century, and the oldest pub in Polperro. Situated on the harbour quayside. I visited the Three Pilchards twice on my stay in Polperro, because it was soooo über fab the first time. Service was efficient, prompt and professional by friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable staff. Dog friendly pub. Gets very busy. They do not take reservations. Children's menu and vegetarians catered for. The handpulled cask beers were Sharp's Atlantic Pale Ale, Sharp's Doombar, Exeter Brewery's organic Avocet Ale and Sharp's Twin Coast Pale Ale. A sucker for Doombar, it's such a lovely drop, so I had that. Typing this review, I'm now wishing I had tried the organic Avocet. Next time! First visit I had the roasted carrot and coconut soup followed by house salad with olives and beetroot and halloumi fries. There is no pud menu - they don't do desserts. Just as well! The food was beautifully presented, high standard and super tasty. Good portions too. My second visit I opted for the mushroom soup and the beetroot and olive house salad again as it was so delish. I had roasted butternut squash with vegetable ratatouille served with roasted new potatoes. This is a totally splendid pub to dine in with great staff, great ambience and high end, tasty, quality food. Not to be missed! Sure cert very highly recommended.

Great food nice staff and very nice atmosphere! I recommend coming here.

Nice place, quite expensive but the fish and chips were a good size.

Lovely food and wonderful staff, especially Alex 😁

Great food and staff at this cozy pub in the heart of Polperro

Lovely little pub, friendly staff and our waitress was chatty, helpful and we have a lovely chat. Steak pie topped with cheesey mash and veg was delicious, just what we needed after many days of chips! Would recommend to anyone. Also very dog friendly!

The Three Pilchards is a pub restaurant in the dream location of the Quay at Polperro, Cornwall. Whilst being local to Polperro this was the first time we visited this pub and to be honest it was because our favourite pub had stopped serving meals at 3pm. As a party of eight (4 couples) we were not at all disappointed. The pub décor does not have the quaint seaside appeal of other pubs and there is a rooftop terrace for fine weather. The menu was varied enough and I chose the braised steak and ale pie with a cheesy, mashed potato 'crust' and seasonal vegetables (£19.95) with two of our party choosing the battered cod and chips (2 large £19.95 and 1 standard £16.45), and an impressive ploughman's lunch platter (£18.95). The service was fine although some glitches with their wireless ordering system during our visit. The pie was excellent with plenty of steak in it although the accompanying seasonal vegetables was actually a salad garnish and was nothing special. The large cod and chips were huge pieces of succulent cod and cooked to perfection. We were all delighted with our meals and the pub serves Aspall's cider on draught so that is always a bonus. Overall I would say great food but just a little pricey but good quality. I would definitely return for the superb fish and chips, washed down with an Aspall's. Parking in Polperro is always an issue with the principal public parking (privately owned) being at the top of the town and costing £7 for 3 hours or £12 for 6. Whilst this may put time pressures on your visit to Polperro it also ensures that it doesn't get too busy.

Another lovely meal..❤ Thank you to Alex who served us and telling us the history of this beautiful old pub..❤

Well priced, great service Matt and good food, thank you for making us feel welcomed

Can highly recommend the garlic mackerel

Don't let the prices put you off the quality of food you get, and the portion size is completely worth it, I opted for the fish pie, which was absolutely loaded with praws,crayfish,cod and salmon and with the best veiws of the harbourside while enjoy a pint is completely worth it

Second time we’ve been , small and extremely busy but staff do all they can to accommodate you .Fish and chips is amazing, service fantastic , in particular Dan , attentive and professional.

Great views from the garden bar. Lovely food with lots of options. lovely bar staff. Matt was very happy and helpful. Would visit again

We stopped off here as our last stop of a Cornwall road trip visiting Polperro. We walked in hoping for a space outside for a drink. We were greeted on arrival and walked up to the beer garden. WOW! The view from the top is incredible. All seats facing towards the houses and we were blown away by the hospitality of Matt. We even bought a coaster of the pub in a local shop as memory from an artist!! We will be back!

A fantastic meal, catering to our dietary needs. Attentive service and a great location!

We ordered takeaway fish and chips for three people and then went out and sat in the harbour, expecting to wander back and collect the food after 30 minutes. After just 15 minutes, one of the bar staff appeared with our food! What fantastic service! And the food was great too. Thank you 3P’s, we were so impressed. Highly recommend.

Great food, good portion sizes and quick service. Very helpful server called Karen. Didn’t need to wait too long for a table for 6 including kids and a dog.

Our host Karen was amazing! We were told the history of the pub plus provided prompt service for drinks and food. Very friendly service.

Very nice food! Enjoyed every meal. Highly recommend to anyone

Just called for a real ale, felt a bit out of place as we weren't eating.

Absolutely lovely I definitely recommend to everyone.

Food came quicker than expected considering the size of the order (6x persons). The Cajun chicken burger is the best chicken burger I have ever eaten! Would highly highly recommend this pub to anyone looking for a rustic, traditional and delicious experience!

I'd give the service 6 stars if I could. Brilliant food and service. They offer a waiting list when full and we were called to a table within 20 minutes. Very dog friendly

Enjoyed several meals and drinks sessions here during our recent stay in Polperro. Staff extremely helpful and providing excellent service. We sat in the lower outside area which was amazing with fantastic views over the harbour and the whole of Polperro. The food was fantastic and plentiful and of great quality. Would definitely recommend and will return when we are back in town!

Food is very expensive but is of good quality and tastes nice . Fish pie was nice but at £21 pounds it's a lot more

Nestled in the picturesque village of Polperro, right beside the charming quay, lies the oldest pub in the area, a true gem for lovers of fresh seafood. The ambiance, steeped in history, offers a cozy retreat where the sea’s bounty takes center stage. The fish and chips here are nothing short of sublime, featuring a fresh cod fillet that is delicately coated in a golden, crispy batter. The freshness of the fish shines through with every bite, perfectly paired with crisp, fluffy chips that are the ideal balance of texture and taste. The culinary delights continue with their crab bisque, a rich, velvety soup that bursts with the deep, sweet flavors of freshly caught crab, beautifully seasoned to highlight its natural sweetness. It’s a dish that warms the soul and tantalizes the palate. And for those who seek variety, the seafood platter is a must-try, offering a generous selection of the finest, freshest offerings from the sea, each element expertly prepared to showcase its unique flavors. Overall, the food here is outstanding, and we thoroughly enjoyed every dish. If you appreciate your fish and chips made with the freshest ingredients, this is certainly a place not to be missed.

Very good, very well served, good beer. Only positive.

OMG had the cold seafood platter and was blown away. The beetroot and ginger cured cod is to die for one of the best meals I've ever had in my life. If you are in Polperro and you like good food and beer you MUST visit this place

Vegan friendly and beautiful view From the outside you cant see, but the Terrace is outstanding. Benjy and the whole Staff are very friendly. Food takes a while (up to 45min!) several vegan Options available.

Very good pub. Good atmosphere and good meal

Fantastic food. Especially the seafood platter and the ploughman's platter. The staff are friendly and efficient. Good selection of beers & spirits.

We came last night with our two children, one who has additional needs. The staff were brilliant couldn’t be more helpful and polite. A lad who said he had only worked there for 5 weeks served us, he was so polite and made us feel very welcome. My little girl had a few moments of outbursts whilst we were in there, but nobody batted an eyelid or judged. As a Sen mum this is something you really appreciate in an establishment. Food was out of this world! So fresh and massive portions. Our friends in the north could take some lessons from the chef at the three pilchards. We will be back again on our visit next year. Thank you.

A wonderful experience here in Polperro! The service was excellent - especially when you consider how many people they’re serving at any one time. We were super impressed with how organised the team was. Food was fantastic and probably one of the best fish and chip dishes I’ve had. We got lucky with a table that had a stunning view too! Alex who served us was a true gentleman! Would come back here again and again!

I've seen this pub morph over the years into a really great gastro pub. Sincere warm welsome and if staying in Polperro within a group, I'd recommend pre booking a few meals here to avoid disappointment.

Very genuine, friendly service, special atmosphere!

Wow, what an absolute find this place was! Great food, brilliant friendly service and the view was beautiful too.

Great beer garden overlooking the harbour , well worth a visit

Great family atmosphere.. super friendly servers (Théo was very attentive ;€) generous portions of fish and chips and special mention for the crab bisque 🦀❤️

Best fish and chips in Polperro Highly recommend this lovely pub 👍 👌

Fantastic pub, Fantastic food, fantastic service from karen

I think that for now it was the place where we ate best... excellent surprise, we also had to queue even though there was no one left in the town... this means that everyone was there... excellent quality for the price...! I absolutely recommend

The steak & ale pie, and the fish pie were delicious. Service was friendly and quick.

On holiday found this place to serve the best value food. Huge portions and quality ingredients. Staff very friendly and attentive, great menu choices, would recommend and definitely will return

Good food, cold beer, amazing view over the harbour, perfect!

Went here to eat based on Google reviews. Very disappointed. Food served on plastic plates, chips over cooked and burgers tasted like they were microwaved supermarket own brand. Expensive given quality. Would not return. And not the pubs fault but the only carpark is cash only, and £7 for 3 hours!

cracking pub ,had some amazing food and the garden decking got views to die for 👍

The best food, great service, lovely atmosphere and a log burner

Had lovely meals here today Scampi and chips and a Ploughman’s food was freshly cooked .Staff very pleasant and made our dog very welcome .Would recommend to anyone .

Great pub with a lovely atmosphere food and staff. Visited on 3 occasions while staying in Looe. Fantastic roof terrace

Old-style pub over multiple levels in the heart of Polperro. Greeted by a friendly server, who directed us to a table. Table service here, so no ordering at the bar (which I don't really like as a rule). Their own Pilchard's pale ale is a Skinner's Lushington's clone (no bad thing) and went down in double-quick time. Food at the table next to us looked stellar! Note that there's no reservation system for evening meals, so you need to turn up in good time. Recommended, even just for a beer.

Delicious food options; and great variety on the menu! We thoroughly enjoyed the Ratatouille and Chicken Tenders. Plus, a gorgeous view and lovely patio! Highly recommend.

Cosy fisherman's pub with good menu and plenty of atmosphere. Friendly staff. Good value ( apart from hideous private car park in Polperro, grrr).

This is the second time that we have eaten here. Today I had the trio of fish and I must say it was truly amazing and reasonably priced.

The food was excellent, with all six of us commenting on the standard of our meals. For me though the standout of our night here was the service. It was lovely to experience such pleasant, friendly & helpful service.

Wonderful roof seating area, food was absolutely delicious 4 empty plates. Reccomend sticky chilli strips and fish pie, and the ploughman's was outstanding

Very crispy, very delicious, freshly prepared. The best fish around. 6 stars

Best fish and chips I’ve ever tasted! Our server, Karen, was very friendly. Shame no draught Guinness - cans just aren’t as good

The food was amazing and so was the view

Very nice pub with good food. Everyone very friendly and helpful.

Lovely atmosphere,staff are very friendly and welcoming and the food is delicious,it's a lovely old pub , definitely worth a visit ,the fish and chips are awesome !

Great little pub We visited 3 times while staying in polperro

Fantastic food, good service and great selection of ales

Pheasant setting, decent seafood menu. Worth waiting in the garden for a table.

So sad that our experience was so dismal. I have been visiting Polperro and this pub since the early 80s as I have family close by. Yesterday, I was there with my daughters, son-in-law and granddaughter. The person who seemed to be in charge last night was inflexible and unhelpful - verging on rude. Dismal children's menu and no scope for a smaller version of the pub's main menu for the child 'as everything is priced up'. Asked if I could charge my phone (realise that this is not a mandatory service), and was told that lots of people ask that - but no! I understand that this is a local village pub - but whether they like it or not - at this time of year they are a tourist hotspot and need to cater for this.

Delicious beer, friendly staff and lovely atmosphere

Absolutely stunning food location and atmosphere, freshly cooked and delicious.

Great view from the terrace and staff taking care of you as soon as you step inside. We've enjoyed fish & chips and good pint of doom bar from the draft. If you are looking to sit inside it can get busy and not that much space.

What can I say about this place that hasn't already been said many times before? It is an absolute gem, tucked quietly away on the quayside of Polperro Harbour and soaked in history that literally seeps from every pore! The wooden beamed walls and ceiling hark back to a time when ship building and the construction of houses and businesses went hand in glove. Some tasteful decorative changes have been made, but so much of this pub speaks of it's heritage and the past. The staff of The Three Pilchards could not have been more friendly, or welcoming. Matt, Fiona, Sen and Emily are total naturals when it comes to breaking down that divide between customer and host, so that you're quickly left feeling like a friend. And I know this isn't done out of some act to encourage you to spend money, these are just genuinely nice people, who want their customers to have the best time. The Three Pilchards runs a table service for food AND drink. I'm not sure if this is a leftover from the pandemic, but I wasn't complaining when I could just wave my empty glass to the ever vigilant Sen, or lovely Emily and another pint of Cornwall's finest would appear at my table, delivered by the ever friendly Fiona, or the leading man, Matt, who also will not let your dog go unnoticed, if you have one!! Of course, if the weather is fine, there is also the beer garden, unfortunately not accessible by all, due to extremely steep steps at the rear of the bar, that lead up to the terraced garden, with fantastic views out over the harbour to enjoy while you sip your chosen drink. The beer garden also has a dedicated bar and will take food orders from a reduced menu for dining al fresco!! Drinks on offer include real ales and locally brewed IPA's, a good selection of lagers, if you drink such things, wine and cocktails, plus all the usual spirits and mixers!! You can even buy Three Pilchards merch if the mood takes you and there's a good selection available, from sports bags and hats, to t-shirts and hoodies. Now the food!! Two words - "NEXT LEVEL!" And I'm talking about everything, from the gargantuan fish n chips, (which is so fresh you can taste the sea and so huge, it's served on a plate the size of a small country!!), to the Steak and Ale Pie, with piped mashed potato topping, to the deliciously crunchy Chicken Tenders, coated (I think) in spiced penko crumb and served with the most ridiculously awesome red onion and sweet chilli, house pickle!! I could go on and on about every dish, but some things need to be a journey of self discovery. The dishes that Sam and Ian, the chefs hidden away upstairs, send down, freshly prepared to order, are quite simply, outstanding!! I'm not sure what's going on in that kitchen, but I think it involves a degree of some ancient Cornish magic!! This is just a wonderful place and somewhere I can't wait to return to. For every reason imaginable, The Three Pilchards at Polperro is HIGHLY recommended!!

Can't praise this pub enough!!! Their fish pie is out of this world!! A real must have.

Fantastic pub, fantastic Staff, Fantastic food!

Eat here three times every time the service and food were fantastic.you need to be hungry as large portions

lovely food and friendly service 😋

Excellent evening meal. We were looked after by Kate. Nothing was too much trouble. Changes to the meal, i.e. potatoes instead of chips and beans instead of peas and done successfully and without any fuss or bother. Great service, thank you Kate.

The place has low ceilings, is a bit dingy and dark and almost cramped, but this adds to it's charm. The staff are lovely and friendly. Matt said to mention him in person. Tasty food, fresh and well made with generous portions!

Well impressed with fresh and delicious food, atmosphere and great service. We found our favourite place :)