Porthminster Beach Café in National Restaurant Line Up

We are pleased to announce that Porthminster Beach Cafe has been recognised as one of the top dining destinations in the UK at an awards ceremony which took place at The Hurlingham Club in London on Monday 29^th June.

We were one of only 3 establishments in Cornwall to be recognised at The National Restaurant Awards.

The awards are voted for by industry experts and cannot be entered; restaurants have to be nominated by their peers – chefs, restaurateurs, food writers and critics – the number of nominations are then counted to reveal a list of the top 100 places to eat in the UK.

Ryan Venning, who has been Head Chef here at Porthminster for the last three years, said he was overjoyed with the ranking of 61, saying: “It’s such a great achievement to be recognised as one of the best 100 restaurants out of every single establishment nationwide.”

He added: “On this list we are ranked alongside so many restaurants that we as chefs really admire, and have been placed there by industry experts.”

From humble beginnings, our Beach Cafe has made a name for itself over the last decade, emerging as one of the best places to enjoy fresh Cornish seafood – which is cooked with Mediterranean and Asian influences by a talented brigade of chefs.

Dishes such as Monkfish Curry, Salt & Pepper Squid and Deconstructed Pimms generated such a cult following that they have been immortalised in Porthminster Beach Café – The Cook Book, bringing the signature Porthminster style into kitchens across the country.

Michael Smith, Executive Chef and one of the owners of the restaurant commented: “We have a fantastic team in place at Porthminster Beach Café under Ryan’s experienced guidance; this national recognition is a testament to everyone’s hard work.”

He added: “To me this shows the continued strength of our offering at Porthminster, and proof that a busy restaurant on the beach can compete on quality with fine-dining establishments, which serve far fewer numbers.”

Ryan and Front of House representative Pete Foulkes attended the lavish awards ceremony on the banks of the River Thames, where they mingled with other stars of the industry and sampled food and drink in the grounds of the exclusive Hurlingham Club.

After celebrating, both are now back in Cornwall and ready for the busiest weeks of the year, which will see hundreds of people flocking to Porthminster to enjoy award-winning dining on the beach.

New Harbourside Dining Destination From Porthminster Team

Our eagerly anticipated second venture, Porthminster Kitchen, opened in April, bringing a new kind of creative dining to the heart of St Ives.

A year in the planning, our new location offers an alternative dining destination above the hustle and bustle of the town’s harbour, combining the same high standards with a fresh new approach – and an equally awe-inspiring view.

Porthminster Kitchen serves up a refreshing, playful take on Cornish cuisine, introducing a menu of smaller plates and lighter options combining global flavours, local ingredients and creative cooking.

Michael Smith, Executive Chef of both restaurants, explained the thinking behind the new venture: “We wanted to create a more casual dining environment where people can enjoy inventive but affordable food.”

Appetisers are £3, starters £5-£7 and main courses are priced at £11-£17.

He added: “We have also stripped out much of what is unnecessary; dairy and gluten take a backseat in favour of light, vibrant ingredients.”

The restaurant, which enjoys stunning panoramic views of St Ives Harbour, is also light and airy, with a more urban feel than our beach restaurant; rustic wood flooring, stainless steel, industrial lighting and stark white tiles are complimented by huge windows and mirrors – ensuring that the view remains the star of the show.

Diners can watch fishing boats return with their catch – shortly to make its way to these very tables – and admire a vista which has inspired many generations of artists, including Anthony Frost whose work adorns the walls.

Head Chef at Porthminster Kitchen is Lee Wilson: A South African-born chef who has worked with Michael for many years, Lee’s other experience includes spells at Peirre Koffman’s in Knightsbridge and Jason Atherton’s flagship restaurant Pollen Street Social, as well as a stint as personal chef to the Qatari Royal Family.

Lee is embracing the challenge at Porthminster Kitchen, saying: “We’ve spent months experimenting with dishes in order to produce a fresh and exciting menu; the food is designed to allow people to create their own tasting menus by choosing a succession of small dishes – it’s a really relaxed and informal approach.”

Lee arrived in St Ives 11 years ago and, despite taking several high-profile jobs elsewhere, he says he has always felt an inextricable pull to return.

He explained: “You hear it so many times but we really are blessed with amazing produce and an inspirational food culture in Cornwall; Michael and I have both travelled and worked all over the world and it speaks volumes that there is nowhere else we would rather be.”

The restaurant also has two self-catering rooms available, which enjoy the same impressive views of the harbour. These can be booked via No. 27 The Terrace.

Reservations at Porthminster Kitchen can be made for dinner only. Call 01736 799874 to book.

To find out more, please visit http://www.porthminster.kitchen/