The Gurnard’s Head

Perched in a secluded spot on Penwith moorland just a few miles from St Ives, The Gurnard’s Head, Cornwall, is a relaxed and rustic dining pub with rooms is the epitome of Cornish comfort.

Owned and stewarded by brothers Charles and Edmund Inkin (proprietors of The Old Coastguard restaurant with rooms in Mousehole and The Felin Fach Griffin in Wales), the iconic bright yellow inn overlooking the Atlantic is comfortable and well appointed. However, it’s the food and warm hospitality that make it truly memorable.

Boldness runs throughout – from the buttery colour of the exterior and dining rooms to the menu. Long-time head chef Max Wilson crafts dishes from an ever-changing list of seasonal ingredients that arrive on his doorstep and include dayboat-delivered seafood, locally reared meats and farm-fresh vegetables.

Standout dishes on Max’s menu include flaky white hake with tomato and courgettes, dukkah-spiced loin of lamb with vada pav, and the eponymous gurnard with pickled fennel.

To complement this good cooking, the pub features an exceptional and eclectic wine list, which includes finds from new and little-known winemakers and at least five UK wineries. Twenty wines by the glass and carafe make pairing with each course a breeze.

Trencherman’s tip

If you visit The Gurnard’s Head, Cornwall, on a Friday or Saturday when the weather is kind, opt for a pint of hand-pulled Cornish ale with a bowl of mussels at new outside bar The Cow Shed.