The Admiral Benbow is an inn with a worldwide reputation and a famous history.
Its interior houses a fascinating collection of maritime artefacts rescued from numerous shipwrecked vessels which floundered on the Cornish coast during the last 400 years.
Many of its treasures are incorporated into the fabric of the building and the Captain’s Cabin restaurant is an amazing example of this with its fine woodwork from a Portuguese Man O’ War.
The Lady Hamilton lounge is home to a magnificent cannon and ships figure head. The upstairs bars have extensive views over Penzance harbour towards St Michael’s Mount.
One of the oldest drinking houses in Penzance, the Admiral Benbow has been in existence since the 17th Century. Popular too with the famous, its visitors have included Gregory Peck, the Rolling Stones and recently the lead singer from Madness.
Today it serves a wide variety of beers, wines and spirits including an excellent selection of real ales and fine wines.
www.intocornwall.com/engine/business.details.asp?id=42
John Benbow (1653? – November 4, 1702) was an officer in the Royal Navy, eventually rising to the rank of Admiral. He achieved fame serving in the West Indies against the French during the War of the Spanish Succession, but was later involved in a notorious incident when commanding a squadron of ships in battle, when a number of his captains refused to support him. He became a popular figure, much celebrated in song, but despite his renown, many details of his life are obscure, leading to considerable debate.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Benbow
Admiral Benbow Inn, fictional home of Jim Hawkins in the novel Treasure Island (1883)
