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Discover Historic Pubs and Beer in St Ives
St Ives Brewery Tasting Rooms, established in 2010, showcases locally crafted beers in a vibrant setting. The brewery expanded to a modern facility in Hayle in 2022. The tasting room features a welcoming atmosphere with rustic décor, offering various ales and local ciders. Nearby, The Sloop Inn, dating back to 1312, serves as a historic pub with character, known for seafood and cask ales. JOHNS – Wine & Spirit Specialists blends a bottle shop and bar, offering fine drinks in a cosy environment. Additionally, The Pilchard Press Alehouse honour’s St Ives’ fishing heritage with a selection of Cornish ales. Lastly, Beer & Bird provides a rustic yet modern dining experience focused on chicken dishes alongside a variety of craft beers.
St Ives started out as a little fishing village on Cornwall’s north coast, known for its pilchards and boat building. It’s named after Saint Ia, who legend says floated over from Ireland on a leaf! Things stayed pretty quiet until the 1800s, when the railway arrived and brought in tourists and artists who loved the light and views. By the 20th century, it was buzzing with creativity, with big names like Barbara Hepworth calling it home.
St Ives Brewery Tasting Rooms
Back down for the train from Penzance to St Erth and changing for the branchline to St Ives. A walk into town brought me first to St Ives Brewery Tasting Rooms. This is located in the heart of St Ives and is a vibrant venue showcasing the best of locally crafted beers. Established as part of St Ives Brewery’s expansion, the Tasting Rooms offer a relaxed space to enjoy their core and seasonal brews.
St Ives Brewery started in 2010 in a small converted toilet block in St Ives. What started out as a passion project quickly grew thanks to their tasty, locally inspired beers. As demand grew, they moved into a much larger, modern facility in Hayle in 2022, where they brew, can, and serve fresh beer straight from the source.
Inside offers a relaxed, welcoming vibe with a modern, coastal feel. Inside, you’ll find rustic wooden tables, comfy seating, and big windows that let in loads of natural light. The space blends industrial touches with warm, beachy charm, creating the perfect setting to sample a flight of craft beers brewed just down the road. The bar features a rotating selection of ales, lagers, and seasonal brews, plus local ciders, wines, and coffee. In addition a fantastic range of cans and bottles of their own beers alongside lots of other local products. Was great meeting and chatting to Steve today. In here I went with “Alba” from St Ives Brewery. A delicious American IPA hopped using Chinook, Cascade, Crystal and Mosaic hops. Very juicy and delicious.
The Sloop Inn
A walk down to the Harbour brings me next to The Sloop Inn. This is one of the oldest pubs in the region, dating back to around 1312. Originally a fisherman’s pub, it has long been a hub for locals, sailors, and artists alike. The pub played a central role in the town’s maritime history. As St Ives evolved into a thriving art town in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Sloop became a popular meeting place for artists such as Alfred Wallis and members of the St Ives School.
Outside you’ll see a whitewashed front and outdoor benches perfect for watching the world go by. Inside, it’s full of character with low wooden beams, stone floors, and quirky corners that make it feel like you’ve stepped back in time. The walls are covered with fishing gear, old photos, and nods to the town’s arty past. It’s got a relaxed, friendly vibe. Whether you’re after a pint, some fresh seafood, or just the atmosphere, the Sloop is a classic spot.
On the bar a selection of 4 cask ales to choose from alongside a wide variety of keg options. I opted to go with “Meor” from St Ives Brewery. A great, easy drinking and refreshing Pale Ale.
JOHNS – Wine & Spirit Specialists
Next up is JOHNS – Wine & Spirit Specialists in St Ives. This has its roots going back to 1894, when it began as a grocer run by Elizabeth Johns. Over the years, it evolved into a beloved local bottle shop, now run by the Hanson brothers. Inside, shelves are packed with craft beers, fine wines, rare spirits, and Cornish favourites. In 2020, they added a relaxed bar where you can enjoy a range of drinks in a cosy, modern setting. It’s a perfect blend of old and new / part specialist shop, part stylish bar and seating area—making John’s a go-to spot for both bottle hunters and casual drinkers.
There is so much to find inside you will get lost with the choice and that’s just from the whiskies and miniatures alone. The small bar area gives some great views out over the sea from the window and offers a choice of 3 keg beers alongside pretty much anything in the shop. “Tiptiwitchet” from Goodh Brewing Co was my beer choice in here. Some fantastic tropical flavours and a very enjoyable juicy beer.
The Pilchard Press Alehouse
Next up is a short walk to The Pilchard Press Alehouse. This Micropub takes its name from the town’s rich fishing past. The building was once a pilchard press cellar, where fish were salted, stacked, and pressed to extract oil, which was then exported, mainly to the Mediterranean. This process was a major part of St Ives’ economy in the 18th and 19th centuries. The alehouse, opened in 2016, honours that heritage by keeping the name and character of the original space. Though now serving pints instead of pressing pilchards, it’s a reminder of the town’s working harbour days and its deep connection to the sea.
Inside it Its boasts exposed stone walls and a wooden bar, creating a rustic, cellar-like ambiance. With seating for just 20–25 people, the space is intimate and welcoming. A mural depicting local life adorns the rear wall, and a webcam offers a live feed of the harbour view.
The pub serves a rotating selection of Cornish ales and ciders, all dispensed from wooden stillage behind the bar which is fantastic to see, accompanied by simple snacks like crisps and tins of pilchards. A great warm welcome from Jim behind the bar today. “Trevaunance Bitter” from Driftwood Spars Brewery was my choice of beer. A delicious, full bodied Traditional English Bitter.
Beer & Bird
Last up was a visit to Beer & Bird. This opened in 2016 in St Ives founded by the same family behind the nearby Johns Wines. Housed in a historic building on Fore Street, the space once served various purposes, including as a bakery and a residence, reflecting the town’s layered past. The bar was part of a wave of independent businesses revitalising St Ives’ centre in the 2010s. Emphasising local roots, the owners transformed the building while preserving its original features.
Tucked above the old Castle Inn on Fore Street, its interior mixes old-school charm with a modern twist. The space sits in a Grade II listed 19th-century building, and you can still see its history in the original floorboards, exposed beams, and stonework. A creaky staircase leads to a cosy, wood-lined room with a long bar, copper pipes, and quirky barrel tables. It’s got that relaxed, rustic pub vibe but with cool, contemporary touches.
On the bar a line up of 10 beers, including one being a cask line. A nice variety of styles to choose from. A delicious sounding food menu with the focus being on chicken and wings is available. A sour beer in here from St Ives Brewery in collaboration with Vocation Brewery. “That’s My Jam” is a fantastic super juicy and super sour Raspberry beer.
Micropub Adventures 