SHOP
There are a wide range of delightful places to shop in this trendy harbour town.
Head to Jill Stein’s interiors emporium Jill Stein Interior Design on South Quay and get a feel for how Jill can inspire stylish looks for your home. Jill has many years of experience and has designed many of the latest Stein empire’s restaurant interiors.
For a look at some of the most revered contemporary art head to The Drang Gallery (it’s name means urge in German). which features work by some of Britain’s best known artists, including Turner Prize-winner Damien Hirst. The gallery will be showing works this year by the late Anthony Amos.
Jo Downs
Cornwall’s premier glass maker showcases some of her vibrant ever popular designs – make sure you bring home one of her wish sticks.
EATING
You don’t need to know much about food to know that Padstow is the centre of Cornwall’s seafood industry – made famous by Rick Stein who’s famous The Seafood Restaurant – now celebrating more than 40 years and remains the brand’s flagship eatery. You can also try out his café and the fish and chips on the quay. Be prepared to queue!
rickstein.com/eat-with-us/the-seafood-restaurant
Chances are you’ll need to book ahead for the ever-popular Paul Ainsworth at No 6. The menu includes the best Cornwall’s waters have to offer including Porthilly Oysters, scallops and crab, alongside Cornish Chap, Tamar valley lamb and a Cornish-style trifle for pudding.
For something a little different head to The Basement. Despite its name, it is one of the few places in Padstow where punters can dine alfresco. The restaurant features a large, heated terrace, with Perspex screens and parasols to keep the elements at bay.
DAYTIME
Head to the quay and into this unique attraction where you can find out more about its work with Cornwall’s fishermen to protect the lobster population.
A pioneering marine conservation charity, Padstow Lobster Hatchery grow on tens of thousands of baby lobsters from egg through their most vulnerable stage of their life cycle and release them back into the wild around Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Among the attractions are watching baby lobsters grow and you can meet their resident giant lobster as well as the magnificent spider crabs. Complete your trip with a visit to the Little Shop of Lobsters selling all manner of lobster-related goodies – or adopt a lobster for just £3.
Take the ferry Black Tor across the Camel estuary to Rock, a favourite holiday destination for slebs, take a barefoot walk across the golden sands to set up camp and watch the kids enjoy a paddle in the gentle waters or head to Daymer Bay for a day of watersports from sailing to windsurfing, water-skiing to paddle-boarding. There’s also a great range of eateries from the stylish restaurant at St Enodoc Hotel (st-enodoc.co.uk) to the more informal Tides at The Mariners (themarinersrock.com).
Check out timetable at padstow-harbour.co.uk
Learn all about fish: Rick Stein’s Seafood School offers day and evening workshops covering all aspects of cooking seafood in its kitchen boasting sea views. There’s also demonstrations, courses for kids and weekend cookery courses for the more serious foodie.
If all that food makes you thirsty – take a tour of Pint of Padstow. This multi-award winning Cornish craft brewery produces around 9000 pints of beer a week on the edge of Padstow. They offer Brewery Experiences that are sure to delight the beer lover.
