West Cornwall: Homegrown Tipple Itinerary

Sip your way through the local liquor with an itinerary that includes a distillery, brewery and vineyard.

From gins infused with squid ink to award-winning sparkling wines, there are so many unique producers right here in Penzance. Of course, there’s a limit to how many tastings you can fit into one day. We’ve created a pick-and-mix itinerary so that you can explore a taste of Penzance at your own pace. Yeghes Da! (That’s cheers in Cornish).

You can mix and match from the suggested activities to create a great day out during your stay. Please note: You will need to contact the venue or experience provider directly to book.

Winter vineyard tours; Polgoon

Polgoon produces award-winning sparkling wines, ciders and fruit juices. You could pop into the shop and buy a bottle or two, but for a deeper understanding of what they do, it’s worth booking a tour. In the winter months, the vineyard offers a slower pace of tour, during which you’ll explore the indoor production areas, learn about the grape varieties and try five different wines.

Gin tasting; Pocketful of stones

Have you ever tried squid ink gin? What about a spirit inspired by the Atlantic Ocean? Book a tour with Pocketful of Stones to hear their story, discover how their unique spirits are made and enjoy a sample or two. The distillery even offers miniatures for designated drivers to take home. Visit their website to book your 1hr tasting tour.

The Crown; Penzance

If you’re searching for a local pale ale, then look no further than The Crown. This venue is so much more than a pub – here, they pull their own small batch, hop-forward pints. Having transformed a run-down pub by the coast into a hub for beer-lovers, they keep a range of keg, cask and bottled ales ready for you to enjoy. The pub also hosts popular quizzes and open mic nights in the winter.

All aboard the Rail Ale Trail

Sip your way through some of Cornwall’s finest pubs and scenery. Starting at Penzance station, the idea is that you hop off the train each time it stops to visit the local pubs. The St Ives Bay Line takes you through St Erth and Lelant, finishing in St Ives. At each participating venue, you get a stamp on a sheet of paper, which you collect to win a T-Shirt.

Places to eat

Cornish Meadery experience; Penzance, Pendeen, Newlyn

For a truly unique dining experience, make your way to one of West Cornwall’s three meaderies. A meadery is an informal restaurant with medieval décor (think flags and wooden tables) that serves traditional mead (fruit wine) and fried ‘chicken in the rough’ on wooden platters. There’s The Waterside Meadery (Penzance), Newlyn Meadery and Trewellard Meadery (Pendeen). Make sure you book your table. Yeghes Da!