Have A Pint And Spend The Night At One Of The Oldest Inns In Cornwall (Circa 1312)

For the most charming seaside stay in all of Cornwall, look no further than the Sloop Inn, a quaint old building in St. Ives, believed to date back as far as the 14th century.

Home to a pub, two restaurants, and more than 20 rooms, the building is both a modern, functional retreat as well as a step back in time. While the Sloop Inn can date back to 1312, the building itself is a product of the 18th century, with antique architecture giving the inn a classic, Victorian seaside atmosphere. Though much of the building required extensive renovation in the 1990s, the inn’s primary bar is miraculously still standing, composed entirely of the original building.

The Sloop Pub Restaurant

The Sloop Pub Restaurant attracts patrons from St. Ives and beyond, serving local Cornish produce and locally caught fish. With its low ceilings and giant behind-bar tankards, the pub feels tailor-made for a seaside town, perfectly embodying the spirit of an 18th century St. Ives.

In addition to the pub, the inn is home to The Captain’s Table, an intimate indoor dining experience, and The Upper Deck, a terrace lounge with breathtaking views of the water. 

Located on a wharf on the Atlantic coast of northwest Cornwall, it’s no wonder the inn’s location has been occupied for almost 700 years. The building is perfectly situated between a beautiful harbor and a vibrant marketplace of shops and galleries.

Fishermen and beach-lovers alike can enjoy a view of the water from the inn’s terrace lounge, or head right to the nearby harbor, walking no further than across an adjacent road. Visitors can transition from admiring the view from their rooms to wading in the waters at either Porthmeor or Porthgwidden Beach in less than five minutes.

The City Of St. Ives

A city perfect for walkers, St. Ives has shops, restaurants, and attractions up and down every street, including a charming café on every corner — but what the town is really known for is its famed art galleries.

Famous for its art scene, St. Ives has almost 15 different galleries to choose from, but by far the most famous is the Tate St. Ives gallery. Located within walking distance of the inn, the gallery is renowned for its modern art displays, featuring work by artists who all have a connection to St. Ives itself.

Another can’t-miss gallery is the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, which showcases the former residence and still-standing studio of England’s acclaimed modernist artist and sculptor.

With such an abundance of activities to choose from, visitors should plan on staying in the town for several days, in order to allow for both seaside adventures and artistic enjoyment. If tourists are interested in exploring the vibrant town of St. Ives, they can make reservations at the Sloop Inn, as well as surrounding lodgings such as the Tregenna Castle Resort, the Carbis Bay Estate, or the Queens Hotel, all of which are located within two miles of the Sloop Inn, offering similar access to the town’s attractions.