This delightful harbourside pub has been in the Arundel family for over 100 years and while the current owners, Shane and Fiona Arundel, have done a little gentle modernisation, they’ve kept the spirit of the old bar which remains a popular meeting place for locals as well as being a welcome stopping place for walkers doing the Sheep’s Head Way.
The big change was that they decided to start doing food – and why not, with fresh seafood on the doorstep and all the good things West Cork has to offer in abundance all around them. And there’s no pleasanter place to sit and contemplate a bite of something tasty while enjoying the view of the bay.
Now, thanks to the genial managers, Liam and Eilis Hodnett, and French chef Dominique Carucci, this friendly spot is known for easy hospitality and the good food which is served in the bar, the first floor dining room - and the outdoor dining areas, which include some very family friendly spaces. Using whatever's best in season - including local cheeses such as Durrus, and crab and prawns delivered to the door by a local fisherman - Dominique rustles up a wide range of tasty dishes. Some of the simplest - homemade Fish & Chips with mushy peas,for example - keep topping the polls in the bar, which says a lot about both the ingredients and the cooking.
There’s also a cute ‘Little Stars Menu’, with artwork by local children (they held a competition with the local school and playschool and the stars were the three winners – all by 4 year-olds!). It offers a baby bowl and homemade versions of half a dozen kids’ favourites – and, while there’s a beer garden overlooking the cove where you can eat in fine weather, two of the outdoor tables are in the secure children’s play area which makes a lot of sense for families.
This really is a very pleasant place to be, there’s a real welcome and the food is lovely – and the bar food proved so successful that a dining room was very soon added upstairs.
