The Pandora has come out top at this year’s Cornwall Tourism Awards, taking home Gold for ‘Pub of the Year’ for the third consecutive year. The pub was also awarded Bronze for ‘Dog Friendly Pub of the Year’
This month, the iconic Restonguet Creek pub celebrates 20 years under the ownership of publicans John Milan and Steve Bellman. Since 1999, it has gone on to become one of the most award-winning pubs in the south west – famous for its food offering, warm welcome and idyllic location. The perennially popular Pandora has won an almighty 21 awards, since Steve and John took on the pub, from a variety of tourism bodies. The pub has also been a finalist at every Cornwall Tourism Awards since 2010, having won a total of seven Gold awards in that period.
Still boasting flagstone floors, low-beamed ceilings and a thatched roof, the historic 13th century pub – named after the HMS Pandora – was almost lost in 2011, due to an infamous fire that engulfed the establishment and caused extensive damage. Within 12 months, the doors were back open for business and the team at the Pandora picked up Gold at the SW England Tourism Excellence awards – testament to the team’s hard work and dedication.
Steve Bellman, long term tenant of the Pandora Inn says: “We were delighted to receive two awards last night – what better way to celebrate our milestone anniversary of twenty years at the Pandora.
“The past two decades wouldn’t have been possible without all of the brilliant people who have worked at the pub – past and present – our amazing locals, our suppliers and our guests, that travel so far to come and visit us. There are so many people that make the Pandora the success that it is.”
Steve Worrall, retail director at St Austell Brewery said: “We’re very proud of the Pandora Inn, which has been part of our tenanted estate for over 35 years. On behalf of everyone at St Austell Brewery, I’d like to thank John and Steve for all of their fantastic work over the past twenty years.”
