Coombe Barton Inn

One of the lesser-known attractions of the Cornish coast in terms of quirky hostelries is this little gem tucked away at the end of a road leading off from the grandly named Atlantic Highway, Cornwall's answer to the Pacific Coast Highway from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

The building was formerly the local Slate Quarrymaster's House, now much extended and home to a typically robust local community for whom Cornwall has already long gone independent.

In that spirit the Inn is a free house, with an abundance of Cornish real ales, lager, wines and spirits. The chef calls upon local ingredients in truly loyal style and it will come as no surprise to see an abundance of the local seafood, fresh as the day, Cornish pasties, steaks, chef's specials and homemade puddings.

On Sundays they do a carvery at lunchtime, with roast ribs of beef, fresh chicken and leg of pork. The meat is good enough for the local butcher to have his name on the menu with pride. Should discretion stray beyond the legal limits they have five rooms to let, and a function room. An ideal place for that "away-from-it-all" quiet wedding.