Serving pirates, smugglers and rum
since 1695

Welcome aboard
the world famous
Admiral Benbow pub

The World Famous Admiral Benbow in Penzance, Cornwall houses a fascinating collection of wreckage and maritime artefacts rescued from numerous shipwrecked vessels which foundered on the Cornish coast during the last 400 years. Many of its treasures are incorporated into the fabric of the building. The Captain’s Cabin restaurant is an fascinating recreation of a deck from a period ship with its fine stern plate from a Portuguese Man O’ War. The Lady Hamilton lounge is home to a magnificent cannon and several rescued ships figureheads. The upstairs bars have extensive views over Penzance harbour towards St Michael’s Mount.

One of the oldest drinking houses in Penzance, The Admiral Benbow has been around since the 17th Century. Legend has it Robert Louis Stevenson visited Penzance in 1880 afer travelling in America. He had formulated an idea  for a book he wanted to call Treasure Island but had yet to settle on the starting point for the story. A visit to the Benbow, which was at that time an illegal drinking den and home to numerous smugglers, is said to have inspired him further and as a nod to the pub, he included the name in his story, Treasure Island which first appeared in 1881. The pub has been popular with more recent folk, playing host to  many famous visitors, including Gregory Peck, the Rolling Stones and recently, celebrity chef Rick Stein who filmed a segment for his TV series on Cornwall here.

Today The Admiral Benbow serves a variety of beers, wines and spirits including an excellent selection of Cornish ales and fine wines from across the world.

The restaurant has a full menu offering a variety of dishes including local seafood. Vegetarian diners are well catered for. Daily specials are available.

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Small Plates

  • Wild Cornish Mussels ~ in white wine and cream sauce starter or main size (Add daBara Sourdough for 2)
  • Whitebait ~ floured and fried  served w/ lemon mayonnaise
  • Mushroom Arancini ~ homemade breaded mushroom and mozzarella rice balls with spicy harissa tomato sauce
  • Garrrrlic Mushrooms & Poached Egg ~ Toasted Da Bara sourdough (v)
  • Fresh Home made soup of the Day (v)

ARRR  Salads

All salads available as Starter or Main Course

  • Beetroot and Rocket Salad  (vg)
  • Caesar Salad ~Romaine Lettuce croutons, parmesan & caesar dressing
  • Greek Salad, Feta Cheese, cucumber, black olives, bell peppers, red onions, vinaigrette (v)

(ADD chicken for  5 ADD Avocado for 3)

Bigger Plates

SEa

  • Cornish Hake ~ in a brown butter and caper sauce, new potatoes, spinach (gf)
  • Large bowl of Fresh mussels ~ in white wine and cream sauce
  • Proper Fish & Chips ~ Battered Newlyn Haddock, Tartare sauce, minted peas
  • Breaded Scampi & Chips ~ Tartare sauce, minted peas
  • Pirate Fish Pie ~ fresh Haddock and smoked haddock, hard-boiled egg, cheese sauce, mashed potatoes

land

  • SteaK Frites ~ 28-day aged Bodmin raised 8oz sirloin, French fries, mixed leaves, aioli (gf)
  • Slow cooked belly of pork with red cabbage (ADD Mash or Chips for )
  • Supreme of Chicken ~ breaded organic breast of chicken on a celeriac puree, with herb butter (ADD Mash or Chips for )
  • Benbow Burger ~ Philip Warren beef, tomato red onion, lettuce, smoky relish and fries (ADD Jack or cheddar cheese, bacon or coleslaw for  each)
  • Home made lentil and coconut Dahl with tempura cauliflower and rocket(v, gf)

And on the Side

  • Fat Chips (vg, gf)
  • Skin on Fries (vg, gf)
  • Home-made mash potato (v, gf)
  • Benbow Coleslaw (v, gf)
  • Steamed Spinach (v,gf)
  • Mushrooms (v, gf)
  • Mixed Salad (vg, gf)
  • daBara Sourdough bread and butter

Perfect Penzance Pirate Pizzas

( available Thursday Friday Saturdays)

  • mARRrgherita ~ Tomato, mozzarella and oregano (v)
  • OG mARRgherita ~ Buffalo Mozzarella, Tomato, fresh Basil (v)
  • Funghi ~ Fresh mushrooms, tomato, mozzarella, truffle oil (v)
  • Davey Jones ~ Pepperoni, chilli flakes tomato and mozzarella
  • Napoli ~ Anchovies, black olives, tomato and mozzarella
  • Giardiniera ~ Buffalo mozzarella, mushrooms, peppers, spinach, red onion (v)
  • The Piggly Wiggly ~ Italian Sausage, Ham, Bacon, Mozzarella, Fresh rocket and BBQ pizza Sauce
  • Seafood Pizza – fresh local crab meat, anchovies, tomato and mozzarella

pizza Extras – add yer own

  • Red Onion, Fresh Peppers, Mushroom, Fresh Rocket, Spinach, Black Olives, Red Chillies
    At  each
  • Ham, Bacon, Pepperoni, Italian Sausage, anchovies, extra mozzarella At   each
  • Extra Buffalo Mozzarella At
  • gARRRRlic Bread Pizza (add cheese for )

(v) vegetarian (vg) vegan (gf) gluten free
Many of the vegetarian dishes above can be specially adapted for vegans, please ask your server.

Allergies: Please check with us if you have any allergies or intolerances.
All our dishes are prepared in a kitchen that contains nuts and other allergens. with advance notice, some dishes can be made gluten free (subject to availability)

Spring n summer Openin ARRRRS

Mondays –     Closed,- sorry.

Tuesday     grog 12:00 – 23:00 grub 18:00 – 21:00

Wednesday   grog 12:00 – 23:00 grub 12:00- 14:30 and 18:00 – 21:00

Thursday.    grog 12:00 – 23:00 grub 12:00- 14:30 and 18:00 – 21:00

Friday.        grog 12:00 – 23:00 grub 12:00- 14:30 and 18:00 – 21:00

Saturday     grog 12:00 – 23:00  grub 12:00 14:30 and 18:00- 21:00

Sunday       grog 12:00 – 23:00  grub 12:00- 16:00

Book a Table

We are now taking deposits of £5 per person. The deposit is credited to your bill on arrival.

for parties of up to 9 people please use the app above, for parties of 10 or more email us.

The deposit is refundable up to 24hrs before the reservation.

Email: hello@thebenbow.com

DOGS Welcome !!

We love Dogs ! Big ones, little ones, furry ones, shy ones, well mannered ones. All we ever ask is that all dogs keep a human on a lead at all times to make sure they behave!

Ask at the bar about treats!

Grog

Draught Beers and Ciders

Treens Essential, Treens CLassic, St Austell Proper Job, Budweiser Budvar,  Spaten Helles Lager, Camden Town Pale Ale, Rattler Original 5.5%,  Devon Red, Guinness

bottled beers

ErdingerWeisssbier, Früh Kölsch, Früh 0%, Früh Radler ( fruit beer), Augustiner Helles Bier, Hacker Pschorr Kellerbier, Proper Job, Big Job double IPA (winner Best Bottle beer of Britain 2023), Corona, Corona zero, Erdinger alc. free, Crabbies ginger beer.

bottled ciders

from Sandford Orchards; Devon Dry, Devon Red ,Fannys Bramble and Devon Mist, Old Mout Cider 0% alc, Rattler Zero

GINS

Including…Hendricks, Tarquins London Dry, Tarquins Blood Orange, Tarquins Rhubarb and Raspberry, Bombay Sapphire, Tanqueray, , Monkey 57

Rums

Skipper, Mount Gay BLack Barrel, Diplomatico Mantuano, Zacapa Solera 23, Zacapa Centenario, Goslings Black Seal, Kraken, Havana Club 3YO and 7 YO, Wray & Nephew overproof, Pussers, Rumbullion and Captain Morgan Spiced, Captain Morgan Dark

Whiskies

Caol Ila 12 YO, Auchentoshan, Lagavulin 16 YO, GLen Moray, Cragganmore 12 YO, Famous Grouse, Jameson, Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, Makers Mark

Vodkas

NO to Russian VODKA!

Absolut (Sweden), Belvedere (Poland), Grey Goose (France),

More

a wide selection of liqueurs!
and an extensive wine list from around the world!

Events at the Benbow

Find out Wasson on our Facebook page…

The Admiral Benbow

Come and find us

Smugglers Heads

To Err Is Human To Arr Is Pirate