The Admiral Benbow Penzance was presented with CAMRA, s Heritage Pub Status.

There was a great turn out of CAMRA members who went alone to support the pub for winning such a prestigious award.

The presentation took place at 1:00 and Trish the landlady received a plaque and certificate. The pub won the award due to its interior. The 18th century pub with an extraordinary interior created between 1950 and the early 1960’s by former licensee Roland Morris, who was a diver. The outrageous interior was constructed from materials recovered from ships' salvage and wrecks. It is probably Britain’s finest example of a post war “theme” pub. The earliest work is the Captain’s or Great cabin at the rear with the front public bar being developed over a number of years. The Great Cabin is a spectacular themed room, an intact reconstruction of the interior of a sailing ship, utilizing fittings from wrecked ships to re-create the aft cabin of a Privateer. Upstairs the nautical theme continues with the Wreck room (where a portion of lifeboat from the Torre Canyon can be found) and Lady Hamilton’s bar.

The Admiral Benbow is one of only three pubs in Cornwall to receive Heritage status. The other two Cornish pubs are the Seven Stars at Falmouth and the Blue Anchor at Helston.

After the presentation, we enjoyed a tour of Penzance real ale venues which of course has to be done.

Many thanks to all members who attended, the great hospitality received from all the pubs we visited and especially to Trish the landlady for lovingly caring for the Admiral Benbow.

Sonia Bunce Press Officer