The Gurnard's Head

Situated like a beacon, The Gurnard’s Head is painted buttercup yellow from top to bottom, and despite this attention-grabbing exterior you’re unlikely to stumble upon it. Nestled on one of Cornwall’s most northerly points, its popularity is testament to the fact that if you put enough care and creativity into your food, people will come (however far the drive or small the roads).

Part of the Eat Sleep Drink group – which also owns The Felin Fach Griffin in Wales and The Old Coastguard in Mousehole – this pub is from solid stock and manages to retain its feeling of being a ‘local’ while serving up refined food.

The menu showcases pub grub with international twists. Start with crispy Middle Eastern lamb parcels that flake away to surrender a soft, spiced meat centre, or elsewhere try monkfish tail with a robust Madras curry sauce.

For mains choose between dishes like a fish burger with pickled cucumber and pleasingly chunky tartare sauce, or pork belly which is pressed before being pan fried for a crisp crust and topped with kimchee and crackling.

If you’ve undertaken a cliff walk before your meal, you’ll be in need of pudding. A banana parfait is silky smooth and comes covered in dark chocolate that snaps with the satisfaction synonymous with a choc ice. Paired with peanut ice cream and caramel, this feels like a childhood dream.

Menus change with the seasons and ingredients are sourced locally where possible, a principle which sits snuggly with the drinks list featuring plenty of the area’s best beer brands such as Skinners and Cornish Crown.

There are log fires in winter, and everyone is welcome, muddy wellies and all. In fact, part of the Gurnard’s charm comes from people watching as dog walkers and families bundle in throughout the day to be greeted by the friendly staff. 

Across the year there are supper clubs, wine evenings and special ingredient-focused menus (goat, for instance). If you’re as enchanted as we are by the prospect of a fairy tale-like pub in the middle of some of the UK’s most beautiful countryside, you might like to know there are bedrooms, too.

The Gurnard’s Head is a gastropub located near the stunning harbour town of St. Ives. Serving a simple menu of fresh dishes which changes daily according to what’s available, the pub is open for both lunch and dinner every day and is also a cosy spot to just come for a drink or two. Boasting a warm and relaxed ambience, The Gurnard’s Head is also surrounded by stunning landscape and situated moments away from the coast, meaning that it’s a wonderful spot to unwind after a day spent walking or lying on the beach.

It’s difficult to miss The Gurnard’s Head as you approach thanks to its bright yellow exterior, while the name of the pub is painted in bold white letters on its roof. The décor inside is slick while still maintaining a rustic charm; pale green walls contrast with flashes of exposed stone, and one room has a small wood burning stove, which crackles away in the evenings. A mish-mash of mismatching stools sit up by the wooden bar, and chairs and tables are dotted around the rest of the space. There is also a large beer garden out the back of the pub meaning that there’s plenty of outdoor space during the summer.

The regularly changing food menu is kept short and varies depending on what time of day you decide to visit The Gurnard’s Head. Expect light dishes such as crab with sourdough and aioli for lunch and on Sundays various roasts are also available. Heftier plates for dinner range from starters such as St Austell Bay mussels, in a white wine, garlic and parsley sauce, to main courses like duck leg with mashed potato and gooseberry chutney.

Beer and wine dominate proceedings when it comes to drinks at the Gurnards Head with over 20 wines available by the carafe, and a wide selection of beers on tap including three Cornish ales.