Top Spots for a Gin & Tonic in Padstow
Boats bobbing past. The twinkling water of the Camel Estuary. Sand between your toes after a day on the beach… There are few better settings for a G&T than the fishing village turned foodie mecca of Padstow. Home of Tarquin’s artisan gin and the heart of Cornwall’s gastronomic scene, here are our favourite spots to wind down with a gin and tonic in Padstow. It’s the perfect way to kick off an evening of wining and dining in this beautiful North Cornwall town.
Tarquin’s Gin School, Padstow
Image courtesy of Tarquin’s Gin
The story of one man – Tarquin Leadbetter – Tarquin’s gin has become synonymous with the North Cornish coast. In 2012 Tarquin established Cornwall’s first distillery in over 100 years, hand-crafting Cornwall’s finest gin from a bounty of carefully selected botanicals – some picked here on the wild Cornish coast. Visit Tarquin’s harbour-side gin school and sample the small-batch gin for yourself, learn about traditional gin-making techniques and get hands-on making your own one-of-a-kind gin to take home with you.
17 Duke Street, Padstow
Padstow Gin & Tonic. Image courtesy of Padstow Gin
Looking for a tipple with a local twist? Padstow Gin is distilled using barley from Tregirls Farm, which is grown in the fields beside the Camel Estuary and infused with the tastes of the ocean. Weaving the flavours of juniper, citrus, bay and locally-foraged stems of Alexander, this dry and smooth gin was awarded a silver medal at the San Francisco World Spirit Competition in 2021. But it’s still best enjoyed in the Duke Street Bar, close to its roots in the heart of Padstow.
Padstow Tasting Room, Padstow
Image courtesy of Padstow Tasting Room
Step into the Old Post Office on Duke Street and sample Padstow Brewing Company’s food and drink in a contemporary setting in the heart of town. There are 10 of the micro-brewery’s craft beers on tap, from First Class (with a nod to the venue) to the Pocket Rocket, as well as their own gin, cocktails and wine. Order a platter of crab or Cornish cheeses and kickback with an aperitif and nibbles in good company.
Ruby’s Bar, Padstow
Ruby’s Bar, Padstow. Copyright James Ram.
Rick Stein might be renowned for bringing Padstow’s foodie scene to fame, but this cosy cocktail bar next to St Petroc’s Bistro suggests he knows just as much about the boutique spirits scene, too. Take a seat in the snug and make your way through the gin menu – from Cornish distilled to classics from around the globe. Or you might prefer a Gin Highball from the cocktail menu, made with Tarquin’s Rick Stein Gin, fennel, pineapple and bitter lemon.
The Mariners, Rock
The Mariners, Image courtesy of The Mariners
Board the Black Tor Ferry to this sublime setting on the banks of the Camel Estuary, where you can sip your G&T overlooking the oyster beds and gazing out to the sailing boats crossing the Doom Bar out to the Atlantic. While The Mariners is known for its local cask ale (including Sharp’s Doom Bar) and delectable menu of local produce, the terrace is also a divine location for a G&T. Why not try a ‘Daring’ gin, made in collaboration with renowned chef and owner Paul Ainsworth, and inspired by his dish ‘A Tale of Porthilly’.
Bin Two, Padstow
Image courtesy of Bin Two
This specialist wine shop tucked away in The Drang is also a great spot to people-watch with a gin and tonic in hand. Get advice on the best tipples from the friendly staff and tuck into a selection of lobster rolls, charcuterie and cheese boards. Whether you’re spruced up for dinner or fresh off the beach, this is a wonderful corner to take time out on the terrace just a pebble’s throw from the harbour.
Book a holiday to Padstow and kickback by the harbour with a Gin & Tonic
Visit Cornwall’s foodie mecca and sip small-batch gin in a boutique bar beside the harbour. Search for your perfect holiday home in Padstow now.