The Union Inn in Cornwall, Isles of Scilly

We have eaten or had a drink here most of the 16 nights we were in st ives. Didn’t have a bad meal and all plentiful. their Sunday roasts were fantastic and the fish pie so good I had it on 4 occasions. The liver and bacon was so tender and the meal so big couldn’t eat it all. Husband loved the chilli and sister in law said the burger was great. The fish n chips were lovely too. Definitely would recommend eating here. the staff were very friendly especially Laura and Margaret can’t wait to go back in July. Loved the fact that although it was dog friendly so always had dogs in there they were only allowed on the floor so no noses or fur near where people eat and if they were picked up staff soon asked they were put on floor. See you all soon

Stopped in for a drink and some food. Great traditional pub, the two front of house ladies were superb and the food was also excellent and great value.

We had the most amazing food at this place, it’s a lovely oldie worldly pub with two great ladies serving, If you are in St Ives it well worth a visit.

Had 4 great evenings in here. Atmosphere, service outstanding. Food amazing and reasonably priced. Saturday night, fantastic band! Special thanks go to Penny and Rosie, super friendly, had some great laughs and just lovely women. We will miss you but will see you again. Thank you for making our getaway a memorable one.

Popped in here for a drink and a bite to eat, WOW! Food was absolutely amazing, very big portions and very good value for money. The staff are very friendly, takes time to have a chat. Will definitely come back again

Welcoming, cosy pub with lots of live music.

This is not a hotel.. it's a pub 😁

We visited lunch time over the Christmas period. We ordered the Fish Pie and Steak and Ale Pie. When the lady (I assume landlady) came over to collect our plates and asked if we enjoyed the food, we said yes but both were over salted. She then went onto say, she has not had any complaints before, with attitude. Well – if you don’t want an honest opinion, then don’t ask if we enjoyed the food! I also wanted to use the toilets for which I was given a scrap of paper with a code. On returning to my seat this was snatched out of my hand. There is a theme to the comments if you read them. We will not be returning as we would like a better welcome and response when we are asked about our food.

Called in last night for a meal with my wife , I had fish / chips n peas , sadly the peas were cold . So I spoke to the bar lady who organised a bowl of very hot peas - sorted . After our meal the used dishes stayed on our table uncollected for an hour before we left . The pub wasn’t very busy

Proper pub, excellent foods! Dogs welcome and friendly staff.

We have just eaten a Roast Beef Sunday dinner. Food was lovely and hot and plenty of it. Would definitely eat here again

Awful pub full of alcoholics avoid

A great selection of beers and the staff were friendly. Had the Christmas dinner which was a very generous portion and tasted amazing with plenty of turkey as well as a good mix of veg. Another in the party had the fish pie which again was a generous serving that had plenty of chunks of fish in. Definitely recommended!

Amazing food great selection of beers had the fish pie excellent value for money and really really nice massive portions to

A great selection of beers and the staff were friendly. Had the Christmas dinner which was a very generous portion and tasted amazing with plenty of turkey as well as a good mix of veg. Another in the party had the fish pie which again was a generous serving that had plenty of chunks of fish in. Definitely recommended!

Just wandering about town and thought ok in the Union for lunch! This was the best idea and food we've had in St Ives for some time. The liver and onions was first class and a proper plate full !! Well done folks , super job done! Will be back and advise friends just how good it is.

Completely understated, old-fashioned proper boozer in the centre of town. A warm welcome on a damp November eve - great pint, and the most amazing quality & value food. There are a lot of quality places in St Ives that are not afraid to ask top dollar, but I recommend you try this pub for taste, value & choice. No way a fine dining place, but what fantastic value, tasty food served with a smile. Will return to St Ives just for this place.

What a lovely little pub. Tucked away in the pretty St Ives lanes it offers delicious home made food at extremely reasonable prices. They were short staffed but the woman serving was doing an amazing job managing to multitask whilst still being very friendly with time for every customer. The homemade steak and ale pie was superb as was the fish and chips. Highly recommended.

We have been going to St Ives for over 50 years, at least once but mostly twice a year and have been going in the Union since I was a two bar pub with wooden slatted bench seating because it was a nice place to eat and allow dogs in, never been told where to sit before but today was different, after sitting at a table (4 seat) with our dog and baggage we were rudely told move to sit at two seater table which are laid out as fillers to maximise cover space and are cramped so we declined and left the PUB (not restaurant). we passed the union daily while we were down there and noticed people just drinking at the tables we went specifically to eat and spend and average £50 + on each visit. Ive rated this place a 3 because it does serve decent food and the staff are generallly good but it seems a management decision to cram more people in has had an adverse effect and it stinks

Went here for 4 times out of a 7 day break. The prices are really good and you get good size portions. Our meals included mussels in a sauce, fish pie, mackerel fillets and ‘catch of the day’ - Lemon sole. All were excellent. The staff were equally great, really friendly and hard working. For a nice pub meal in a great central location for a decent price (far less than many others nearby), you should give this pub a go.

Called in for a drink, the pub is quite atmospheric and not the usual tarted up pub that's the norm these days. A good selection of beers and cider, we didn't order a meal but what we saw being served looked very appetising and looking at a menu there is plenty of choice. We would visit there again and have a meal with no hesitation

Went in for food and drink, good selection of drinks, ordered the food, fish finger sandwich, fish & chips. & onion rings, fish and chips not great, batter was soggy inside and a salad had appeared on the plate which wasn’t advertised £14, fish finger sandwich was appalling, never order this as it was just fish fingers bought from Iceland in a box, could have made better myself £9 & onion rings which I asked if they were beer battered and they said yes and to my amazement they wasn’t £5, so overall it wasn’t a great lunch at all, won’t be going back.

Dye fat chips,rubbish mushy peas, fish nearly cooked don’t know if it’s under new management, but never again.

Love this pub. Staff all friendly. Sunday roast , very good , excellent portion sizes and great value. will look forward to visiting again when back in st Ives, sooner rather than later hopefully.

Called in on spec for lunch, very busy but found a table for four and rooms for the dogs. Great selection of beers and the food was excellent with a good choice.

Walk in Sunday dinner, staff were very friendly, fairly extensive menu with all dishes affordable. We both had fish pie which we didn’t have to wait long for and was very tasty.

It's a good pub, with good food that's not microwaved, good service dog friendly good value

We paid for our drinks then she started serving someone else without giving us our drinks. We went back to the bar and she carried on cleaning while we stood waiting for a drink. We were told to move up the steps to a small table even though we both have walking sticks, then allowed the next couple to sit at the table we’d been told to move from. Total chaos from start to finish which was a shame as the food was really nice but the service was rubbish

We went to the pub for dinner on Friday. The food is very varied, so that everyone will find something. Even though it was full, everything worked quickly because it was very well organized and the ladies worked quickly and friendly. Both of our dishes tasted very good. The food was reasonably priced by Cornwall standards.

Had the most amazing steak and ale pie, nice big puff pastry on the top , and so much meat inside , our very polite waiter and bar staff Conner looked after us ... first time eating in and not our last , very dog friendly.

Great traditional pub in the centre of St Ives. The food was lovely and made on the premises. I had the fish cakes which were delicious. Lovely friendly staff, great unpretentious surroundings. Not our first visit and we’ll definitely be back.

Lovely place to get a bite to eat and have a drink. Fantastic food portions and friendly staff. Dog friendly and not too busy for St Ives, I was able to get a table for 4 on a Saturday night without booking.

The Union is such a delightful find! From the moment you step in, you’re welcomed with a smile and friendly banter that make you feel at home. It’s cosy and relaxed, with just the right amount of Cornish charm—perfect for catching up with friends or just enjoying some quiet time on your own with a book. The drink selection is great, with plenty of local brews and classics to choose from. Laura & her staff are so helpful and always happy to chat & suggest something new. And the food (cooked by both Marks) is amazing, portion sizes are generous & well seasoned! Our personal favourites are the Fish cakes, Mackerel, Beef Chilli & the Steak n Doom bar pie is a must-try. Overall, it’s just a really warm, inviting place where you are made to feel part of the family & can relax. Looking forward to our next visit guys.👍

Perfect little pub to escape the chaos on Fore Street. The people serving are amazing. So friendly!

We are a family of 6 we called in to get some lunch while we were sat waiting the waitress warllwell worth every penny s coming out with plates of food that looked to good to eat our meal came and we were surprised at how much food was on the plate it was delicious I would give them 100 /100 well worth every penny

Amazing food amazing people Thank you.

Very accommodating. Lovely staff. Amazing food. Certainly get great portions for your money

Catch of the day was plaice . Perfectly cooked and plenty of it . Accompanying vegetables excellent . Shame about the silly sachet of tartare sauce .

Lovely atmosphere, stopped for lunch which was excellent and very good value. Highly recommended.

The food is excellent. Staff so friendly, only 2 working, but they worked so hard to keep everyone served. Dogs welcome as ljmg as are kept on floor, which is fine

What a great find. Evening meal starts at 5.30... value for money. Thanks for a good hearty dinner.👍

Very welcoming, friendly service. Excellent food and plenty of it, with lots of choice. Great value and good atmosphere. Chocolate and orange cake with cream was absolutely delicious!

Had a fabulous lunch here! We both had the Union Club Sandwich, which was amazing, freshly cooked, very generous portions! Very reasonable prices too. The lady with grey hair and glasses who served us was very hard working and attentive. Hoping to come back soon and sample the Sunday lunch!

We always enjoy a drink at the Union when visiting St Ives. It's warm in the winter, and cool in the summer. We like their tall bar stools. We've always threatened to eat here as the portions are huge and are great value for money. We eventually got around to it late last month. My pie and mash was great. Plenty of steak, light puff pastry, and gravy in the pie. My husbands fish and chips were a little stodgy. The batter wasn't crispy enough. Cod was good inside though. Chips excellent. We certainly left full. Good honest pub grub and gives your wallet a bit of a rest (although drinks prices were comparable with the rest of St Ives). It's a bit of a doggy lottery, but the pub cannot be blamed for yappy dogs. I understand that they're quite good at asking anybody with an overly yappy dog disturbing other customers and upsetting settled dogs to leave. We would eat here again.

I’ve just read the previous reviews and I’m surprised about their negative experiences , we were asked as a party of two to sit at a small table, saving the larger tables for families and larger groups but we were asked in a very polite manner! So not a problem. Old pub , very cramped, but very friendly and welcoming, and the food was excellent, we both opted for the coq au van from the specials board . It was probably the biggest dinner I’ve ever been served, the chicken was cooked to perfection, the mountain of veg and mash that accompanied it was delicious. Sadly neither of us had room to completely clear our plates . Definitely recommend for good simple pub grub.

Arrived to a virtually empty pub at 330pm. Found a table in an emptying pub. Just wanted a nice pint. Have our westie in a a pushchair owing to a breathing condition. Lady rushed over to tell us to we had to take down the dog pushchair as the pub was small!! But the pub is empty! The attitude of the lady was too sharp. Turned round and left. Very disappointing that we should be jumped on like that. If the policy is that then so be it but the attitude of the staff was offensive. We understand why it was empty! They scare the customers of!!! Ten years of eating there abd we'll go elsewhere

Great beer ...fantastic food....very friendly staff.. .loved it

Great pub with delicious food at a fair price. There is also a great selection for vegetarians.

Called in for a drink Monday 24th June 9pm. Served by a nice young lady behind the bar. A pint of Coke & a pint of Fosters £11.25. I cannot believe I paid £6.50 for a Fosters & £4.75 for a Coke. Just to let you know if you want to use the Ladies you will need a code. If you want to use the Gents you don't. As I said to the nice young lady behind the bar, "I will never darken your door again."

Not a dog friendly pub unless your dog is completely silent in which case you will probably be asked to leave. We have eaten in many different pubs and restaurants throughout the country and have never been spoken to in this manner before. Shouldn’t be advertised as a dog friendly pub if dogs are not allowed to bark. Avoid this pub if you have a dog.

The evening was completely spoiled by an extremely rude barmaid. I asked for a vodka & orange juice & she showed me the orange juice bottles in the fridge. I asked if there was any carton orange juice & she pointed to some orange liquid in a jug. I said I would have that as I was thinking of cost as usually the upmarket orange juice in the bottles is expensive. She put a very small amount in & I asked for a bit more. When I tasted it it was orange cordial which completely ruined the drink. I went up to the bar as I had paid for a drink that I did not ask for & said that I asked for vodka & orange juice & not vodka & orange cordial. She then argued with me that orange juice & orange cordial is the same! She kept saying that she had given me the choice of the 2 different orange juices which she had not as 1 was orange cordial. I did go back up again as the drink was horrible to ask for another drink on the house as I had not got the drink I had asked for & yet again she was extremely rude & kept arguing again that orange juice was the same as orange cordial, my child knows that it is not the same! An older lady who works there backed the young barmaid up. The food was excellent but we will never go back as I expect to get the drink that I ordered & not to be argued with & told that it is my fault when it is clearly not. It did spoil the evening.

Service was great, food was fantastic (fish and chips, mussels, crab sandwich). Good selection of beers on tap

We (me, Mrs and our 2 boys) had a meal here whilst on our holiday! We all had fish and chips. And the fish was just beautiful. Really tasty food. And it is very reasonably priced. Will definitely come back when we are down again.

A lovely old school pub. Old music, old quiz shows on the TV, have to ask for a code to visit the ladies, approached as we entered the pub as a couple to only sit at a table for 2 - this wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea but we loved it. Ate in here twice , the Sunday lunch was outstanding, loads of meat and they had a roll of foil on hand for me to take my leftovers home.

Wife and I visited this place and we we were both bowled over with the food. I had fish pie with mash and it was delicious, the best I've ever had. The wife had vegetable carbonara dish and she said it was to die for. Staff very friendly and a lovely pub. Well done to all concerned 👍

Nice olde wordle pub . Great pub food and a good portion . Friendly staff especially the one lady who was bringing food to the tables etc she was a credit to the pub .

A very welcoming little old school pub. They helped squeeze in our family of 9 with no problems. The ladies behind the bar were lovely and friendly. The menu was good pub grub and everyone was really happy with the quality, portion sizes and variety of food. Even the kids were happy!! Would definitely visit again. We all left completely stuffed and really happy we popped. Best pub food iv had in ages!!

My partner and I were desperate to see the England vs Ireland Lionesses game yesterday. Every other pub seemed to be showing the other big games e.g. Arsenal. The staff at the Union were kind enough to put the Lionesses game on for us and were ever so kind and welcoming. This is a PROPER pub with decent pints (and food from what we could see and smell from other tables), great service, kind staff, a chilled, friendly vibe, good atmosphere and even reasonable prices for this day and age in St Ives. I don't post reviews very often, but we were so impressed by this lovely pub and the warm welcome we received, we thought it'd be rude not to! My1 new favourite pub in Kernow. We'll be back the next time we're in St Ives. Thank you.

Amazing food with decent portion size. Very hospitable staff and a good old-school pub ambience.

Proper pub, in a sea of clones The Union is refreshingly genuine. Friendly welcome every time. Traditional food of good quality.

Food & service excellent, thank you.

Right in the middle of the high street, a warm and welcoming team make the visit really great. Lunch menu pretty extensive and clearly by the number of people in here enjoying generous portions and many lunchtime treats, it is consistent. A great glass of draught Rattler to accompany a fresh baguette and what is described as a 'handful' of chips (it was a very big big fella whose hand was used) with lovely filling was truly a treat to remember. I'll be back. Toilets clean and functional up the stairs

We went to enjoy a pint and watch six nations. We would have stayed longer to watch both matches on 9th March but due to the rudeness of staff we drank our drinks and swiftly left. They advertise as “dog friendly” but in reality barely “dog tolerant” If you are visiting St Ives with your dog, avoid this place, there are plenty of other pubs in St Ives that really are dog friendly, polite staff and welcoming

Although the food and prices at the Union were good the younger barmaid was one of the rudest most unfriendly people we have ever had the misfortune to be served by! We were a party of 12 who arrived a few minutes apart. She came to where the first of us who arrived were sitting and rudely told us “We don’t reserve seats here!! So you cannot save seats for your friends!!” She treated us like a party of naughty school children!! We spent a lot of money in the Union Inn that night but if she’s behind the bar we certainly will not be returning!

A proper old pub and the food is not bad but the woman behind the bar needs a personality by-pass. Off the scale Rude and unhelpful. We were a large group all drinking and dining but she couldn’t have been more objectionable telling us we could not hold seats for friends who were en-route and did arrive - if you don’t want to be hospitable get a job away from the hospitality trade ! Purely on the basis of her attitude we won’t be dining there again

Been for drinks before but had food here one night of our break and it was that good we came back for a 2nd meal. Both times the food was excellent, large portions, good quality and reasonably priced. Whilst most of the eateries in St Ives are overpriced the Union offers excellent value for money. The staff are welcoming, the place was dog friendly and they serve a good pint. Again, compared to other pubs in the area the beer is of reasonable price. Cheers to all staff members, see you next year.

Good beer, great food and friendly service, what more can you want in a traditional boozer?

I had a fantastic Sunday roast here. The food was plentiful and delicious.. The meat was tender, the sides were perfectly cooked, and the portions were incredibly generous. The atmosphere and service were great too. Highly recommend for a hearty meal that feels like home.

Absolutely loved my steak 🥩 and chips, onion rings, mushrooms 🍄 🤤 salad 🥗. If I lived in the area I would regularly Go.

This is a pub unspoiled and has probably been doing it's own thing for decades, so people after a bar with a fresh new look need to consider elsewhere (isn't that the charm of old pubs anyway?) It's staff are lovely, the chef clearly cares about the food and that's all you can hope for. The beef on the Sunday Roast my wife ordered left me with food envy, huge amounts of it and melts in the mouth. Will go back again here no doubt.

Had a wonderful lunchtime meal here whilst on holiday. It was super value for money, plentiful portions and friendly staff. It is a dog friendly pub too. Would definitely recommend and will be returning in future.

Traditional Old School Pub, we only stayed for drinks but In fairness the menu looked a good offering and well priced, would return for food

Excellent little pub, good food and service. Rather enjoyed their choice in music 🤘highly recommend the beef burger, was cooked perfectly, and so were the chips. There's no parking but it's in the centre so there's parking on the outskirts which is fine. Dog friendly, I asked for a bowl of water for the dog which was happily provided!

A fantastic traditional English pub with the best food specials menu I have ever seen.

We visited the Union Inn as a family of four in January 24. We all had a meal and drinks. The food was typically British, simple, plenty of it and really enjoyable. I had fish and chips and at £12.95 it represented tremendous value for money in what can be a pricey town. The hostess was really friendly and helpful. A surprising gem that we really enjoyed.

Be careful as soft drink prices are ridiculous. £4.50 for an appletizer!! We visited twice for meals and as usual the liver and bacon was outstanding. Also had beef dinners which were good too. Food wise we feel this pub offers good value, and staff are friendly and helpful. Our issue is the soft drink prices are crazy. £4.50 for a fizzy apple is crazy. Next time I'll have tap water rather than pay that. It doesn't encourage sensible drinking and penalises the driver!

Went daaaunion with me mate Dave, absolute belting place quaffing the old Atlantic Pale Ale. To be fair we have become pretty big faces daaunion. Looking forward to returning.

Lovely local pub , good prices and good service

Friday 1st Dec . Some absolute eejits at the bar spoiling it for everybody else noisy, rude and very loud. Woman behind bar turning a blind eye, did nothing . 3 other couples left with us , leaving disgusted.

Lovely pub with friendly staff. All the food was home cooked and the portion sizes were amazing. Dog friendly too which is a bonus. Would definitely visit again.

Absolutely brilliant, we all had an amazing meal, Moules,Mac and Cheese,Fish Pie and Steak and ale pie and all were outstanding and portion sizes were perfect! Staff very friendly and the pub is dog friendly which is great, we will be returning again!

Best food I have had eating out in a very long time, staff were lovely. I will definitely be going back.

The staff in here are always very friendly and even remembered what I drink after only 1 brief visit. We haven't had the food yet but it looks and smells really good and the portions look very generous

Properly dog friendly, honest boozer. Decent beer and you will never leave this place hungry. Great value compared to many rip off pubs in St. Ives.

Visited The Union during a weekend in early November. Busy when we arrived but there was a couple of tables available . We ordered our food , both of us opted for the liver , bacon . The food arrived shortly after ordering . I wish I took a picture , you needed to a competitive eater to finish the portion size ! It was absolutely delicious . I looked at other meals other customers were being served , they all looked delicious . I would highly recommend a visit .

Great food, fantastic home made soups and friendly staff

Nice pub, we went for food and a drink. Club sandwich and chips very good. I just wanted something light so had the soup. It was tasty but very over priced for soup and a slice of bread £8! Then I went to use the ladies toilets, walked up the stairs and found a note on the toilet door saying you have to ask for a code to use the toilet at the bar! So basically the ladies have to ask before going to the toilet! Ridiculous! The men don’t . I won’t be going back.

Great little boozer and good homely food.

We called in for lunch on a day out in St Ives. The food was excellent - the fish of the day was delicious and plentiful served with a large portion of tasty chips and salad. Great value for money. The only downside for me was the fact that there were several dogs in the pub ( and I struggle being close to dogs). I’m sure that would not be a problem for most people as dogs seem to be welcomed in practically all restaurants now.

Food choice and quality good. Prices reasonable.

Nice pub with very friendly staff. Went on a Saturday night when they had a great band playing. Good food too at a reasonable price.

Beautiful home made food, good drink selection.

We find the two ladies who seem to run the bar not very welcoming. However, once you are sat at a table they are happy for you to have, the rest of the experience is worth it. The food is superb. Sunday lunch was a particular highlight and the lady clearing and waiting tables on her own in a packed pub was amazing. She makes up for the indifferent attitude of other staff members.

Lovely cosy pub with friendly staff and tasty food. Highly recommend the crab sandwich

Firstly the food here is proper pub grub, good size portions and quality meals. However the service is very bizarre - a feeling of if you’re known to them you are treated quite differently to first time visitors. Food being served at a time as advertised depending on who’s asking, a very weird set up regarding code for the bathroom (even if you ask to use as a customer) and quite arrogant staff. If you can ignore the service, enjoy the food!

We were welcomed and well looked after as always by Laura and Penny. This pub has everything, good beer, excellent food and good company! We are never disappointed, It’s the best pub in St Ives and already looking forward to the next time!

Found last year when walking through St Ives and noticed the A frame menu and specials. Had to return again this year when back at St Ives. Great old fashioned pub atmosphere when you have queue waiting for opening including regulars know it's a winner. Wonderful prompt service and excellent freshly cooked food. Worth putting on your to do list for eatery. Steak was excellent as was Ham, Egg and Chips. Both cooked to perfection and presented. X

A lovely old English bub with a great atmosphere and helpful staff. The food is exceptional and of good value. The best fresh local crab Sandwich I have ever had and my partner said the same about the Mussels. A must visit if your in St Ives. Five stars 🌟 for the food and a big thank you to the unsung hero, The Chef 👨‍🍳

Excellent pub. Food brilliant ,wine excellent , Staff excellent. Don’t miss this one. Penny and Gavin will give you a warm welcome.

Amazing place Staff excellent, plenty of drinks to choose from. But , the Sunday roast, is well worth going for, lots of meat and plenty of vegetables to go with it. Was lucky enough to see a live band there too. Would thoroughly recommend to anyone to check the place out.