The secret is out. Falmouth has been voted one of the best places to live in southwest England. Now is the time to visit and the Star & Garter is the place to stay: indulge in some of the best food and cocktails in town before staggering upstairs to one of 3 cosy self-catering apartments for a blissful night’s sleep. The pub sits at the vibrant end of the high street surrounded by boutiques, bars, galleries and coffee shops. As a thriving port and student hub, there's a young, creative feel to the town which is rapidly shaking off its old-fashioned B&B past.
Becca, who grew up in Falmouth, and her trained-chef husband Elliot had long fantasised about running their own restaurant-with-rooms. Then one night, a vivid dream led Elliot to Google the idyllic waterfront pub he had visited as a child. Miraculously, they found that it was for sale and the rest is history. After a much-needed renovation, both the pub and apartments have been given a new lease of life: deep blue wood panelling, brass fittings and cosy leather chairs in the restaurant bestow a modern yet maritime feel, while equally elegant rooms above look out over the estuary. The perfect place for a restful adults-only break in a delightful part of Cornwall.
Highs
- Great-value apartments in the heart of Falmouth's old town, close to all the action
- Each apartment living room has sweeping views of the Fal Estuary while the top-floor Crow's Nest also looks out across town
- Delightful interiors: comfortable and stylish with well-equipped kitchens
- One of the friendliest and most genuinely charming teams we have encountered
- Chef Elliot and his team offer award-winning cuisine with an emphasis on quality local ingredients; the best Sunday roast we've EVER had!
Lows
- The 2-bed Starboard apartment is directly above the pub so noise could travel
- The Crow's Nest has some very low ceilings so watch your head if you're tall; there are some steep steps too and bedrooms are high street facing
- No kids or dogs accepted; this is an adults-only retreat
- Patchy WiFi in the apartments - a good excuse to switch off and look at the views
Best time to go
Beautiful at any time of year but we like it most out of season in early spring and late autumn when the crowds have dissipated
Our top tips
If you have a car, take a drive out to the tiny village of Constantine and visit a hidden garden gem called The Potager; enjoy a delicious café brunch in the lovely leafy garden then hang in a hammock enjoying the peace
- Boutique Apartments
- 3 bedrooms
- Restaurant and bar open daily
- Adults only
- Open all year
- Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Daily Maid Service
- Towels & Bedlinen
Rooms
We stayed in the romantic top-floor Crow's Nest apartment - the only one with a wood-burning stove. Tucked up in the eaves, there's a characterful open-plan living/kitchen area, a bijou bathroom with shower over the bath, and a double bedroom. It's cosy and light with sloping ceilings, beautiful linens and quality bedding.
The Penthouse was our favourite: on the second floor with views across the Fal from the open-plan living/dining space, a huge dreamy bedroom with small ensuite bathroom and Fired Earth tiles.
Starboard is the 2-bed apartment on the first floor, above the pub. Ideal for a weekend away with friends, bedrooms are generous in size and overlook the high street, whilst the large living room and kitchen look out over the river. A stylish shower room is sandwiched in between.
Features include:
- Hairdryer
- Minibar
- WiFi
Eating
All apartments have kitchen facilities and are well kitted out with quality items. On arrival, you'll receive freshly baked bread and cakes from the local bakery (perfect for your first breakfast), and there's a Nespresso maker with pods. Basic supplies (washing up liquid, salt and pepper, oil, tea bags, etc) are provided and there are nearby shops should you want to self-cater. But with such a tempting array of cafés and eateries on your doorstep, we doubt you'll want to do much cooking.
Of course, you'd be crazy to miss out on Elliot's award-winning food at the Star & Garter pub. Monday is Blues and BBQ night whilst their Sunday roasts are legendary. The pub doesn't open until lunchtime but guests get a small discount on breakfasts at The Ope over the road. We also loved Esspressini on Arwenack Street.
Features include:
- Bar
- Coffee maker
- Full kitchen
- Hob or stove
- Oven
- Restaurant
- Restaurants nearby
- Toaster
Activities
- Saunter around Falmouth and enjoy art galleries (Beside the Wave), boutiques, artisan bakeries and delis
- Visit the Cornish outpost of the National Maritime Museum
- Plenty of events and festivals throughout the year with stalls set up on The Moor and in Events Square, such as the annual Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival and the Beer Festival
- Take a passenger ferry across the Fal Estuary to St Mawes and enjoy a day trip to the Roseland Peninsula
- Falmouth has 2 great beaches, Gyllingvase Beach (make sure to have a drink or lunch at The Gylly Café) and a little further, Swanpool Beach (both a 20- to 30-minute walk away)
- Take a train into Truro to explore Cornwall's capital city
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Birdwatching
- Boat trips
- Cycling
- Fishing
- Historical sites
- Museums / galleries
- Nightlife
- Sailing
- Shopping / markets
- Surfing
- Swimming
- Wine tasting
Kids
The Star & Garter is adults-only (over 18s)
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
The Star & Garter is right on the edge of the harbour of central Falmouth, in southern Cornwall, England.
By Air:
The nearest airport is Newquay (48km). You can also fly into Exeter (169km) or Bristol (267km).
By Car:
Falmouth is a 2-hour drive from Exeter, a 3-hour drive from Bristol, and a 5-hour drive from London or Birmingham – see our car rental recommendations if you want to hire a vehicle.
By Train:
Take a mainline train to Truro then change onto the ‘Maritime Line’ for the 20-minute hop down to Falmouth. The Star & Garter is a 10-minute walk or 5-minute cab ride from the station. You can park on the street for free (limited spaces).
Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.
More on getting to the UK and getting around
Airports:
- Newquay 48.0 km NQY
- Exeter 170.0 km EXT
Other:
- Beach 0.1 km
- Shops 0.3 km
- Restaurant 0.1 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 2 independent reviews from i-escape guests
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape