Prawn on the Lawn

Spankingly fresh seafood

One of Cornwall’s most talked about seafood restaurants, Prawn on the Lawn actually started out in 2013 as a tiny fishmonger and seafood bar in Islington. The original venue was a such a hit that founders Rick and Katie Toogood decided to open a second site at the source of their impeccable produce: Padstow.

Their menus are dictated by what the Cornish fishermen land each morning, so no two visits to this bijou seafood bar are ever quite the same. Working closely with head chef Eddie Thomson, Rick favours sustainable fish and shellfish species and supplements the day’s catch with hyper‑fresh veg from Ross Geach of Padstow Kitchen Garden.

In 2020, the Padstow restaurant relocated to Trerethern Farm (on the outskirts of town) for the summer and the residency was such a success that it has continued ever since. From April to October, seafood lovers flock to the covered alfresco tables to feast on small plates, shellfish platters, oysters and whole fish.

Delicious dishes – think crispy chilli monkfish with pickled cucumber; sardines with feta, dill, mint and olive oil; and seared tuna with soy, mirin, spring onion and chilli – are complemented by local wines from Trevibban Mill (just a stone’s throw away) and beers from Padstow Brewing Company.

Winner of Best Trencherman’s Restaurant 2023 – sponsored by Dole