Easter is a time for well-deserved indulgence and we have the perfect place in mind to enjoy a cocktail (or two!) while enjoying the most scenic and stylish locations. Whether you're eager to discover some of the South West's hidden coves and beach retreats, or heading to soak up the vibes in the big city, we know the best place to go!

A gourmet gastropub in the heart of Falmouth, the Star & Garter is perfect for bottomless brunch, harbour-side dining and a tempting cocktail selection imbued with Falmouth's coastal Cornish heritage. They have an exciting cocktail list full of the county's finest alcohol and classics no bar can be without!

Our Favourite Cocktail
The deep & fruity 'Plum New Depths' - Gosling's Rum infused with plums & figs and Knightor Rosé Vermouth

Tucked away on Exeter quay, blink and you'll miss this Victorian-inspired cocktail den and winner of Food Magazine's 'Best Bar 2018'. Guided through the secret doorway, a charming and knowledgable team welcome you and are more than happy to matchmake you with the drinks menu - great if you're keen to try something new! 

Our Favourite Cocktail
Try 'Revelations' - a crisp and complex blend of Hendrick's Orbium Gin, Knightor Dry Vermouth and Orange Bitters 

Nestled on South Devon's picturesque coastline, Salcombe Distillery has become synonymous as a yachting and gin-lovers haven - and for great reason!  With an idyllic waterfront location and a calendar of exciting events throughout the year, the distillery is a bursting with activity whatever the time or weather! An impressive cocktail list awaits you, and if you don't have chance to explore the distillery, the large copper stills can still be viewed from the bar. 

Our Favourite Cocktail
Inspired by the South-West coastline and created by Mark Hix MBE, The 'Scallywag' is flavoursome blend of Salcombe Gin Voyager Series ‘Mischief’, Knightor Rosé Vermouth, Sacred Rosehip Cup and Pastis. 

Experience the Spanish tradition of 'La hora de vermut'/ vermouth hour with Cornish vermouth at Abbotshill Wine Shop & Bar in Ealing, West London. A carefully crafted menu of tapas-inspired dishes is just the place to enjoy a glass of vermouth or a cocktail. Choose from Mediterranean antipasti, bruschetta or organic British cheeseboard, all British, organic & more-often-than-not from small independent farms.

Our Favourite Cocktail 
Try 'Tim's Negroni', a delightful blend of Hepple Gin with Rosé and White Knightor Vermouth

Cornwall's first plough to bottle distillery is located just a short distance from Knightor Winery at Colwith Farm near Lanlivery. 5 generations of the family have farmed here, utilising their potato crop and Cornish mineral water to create a family of unique gin and vodka. Their distillery bar is fully stocked, serving the finest Cornish cocktails and samples with beautiful country views to boot! 

Our Favourite Cocktail 
'Stafford's Negroni' - Stafford's Gin, Knightor Rosé Vermouth and Campari for a deliciously Cornish cocktail.

Our vermouth is taken from grape to glass right here Knightor Winery and we highly recommend a visit to where the magic happens. See our winery in action, walk amongst our display vines and visit our herb garden, where many of the herbs for our vermouth are sourced. Our bar team will happily guide you through our vermouth and in nearly all cases will have been involved in the vermouth-making process, whether that be harvesting the grapes, bottling or waxing! 

Our Favourite Cocktail
The Cornish Spritz is a light, easy-drinking aperitif that's full of botanical flavour and the finest English wines. With equal parts Knightor Rosé Vermouth and soda with a slice of orange, it's so simple, yet so delicious! 

Situated in the picturesque harbour of Charlestown, The Longstore have a great passion for steaks, seafood and cocktails with the ultimate seaside location to match! 

Our Favourite Cocktail
Get in there quick and be the first to try a 'Cornish Cobbler', new on the cocktail menu for spring. 
A complex yet fruity cocktail with Apricot Brandy, Knightor Dry Vermouth and Peychaud's Bitters, this one is made for Cornish evenings by the sea! 

Where is your favourite place to enjoy a vermouth cocktail? Did your favourite make the list? 
Tell us in the comments below

From coast to coast, Cornwall is plentiful in exciting places to see and things to do, but take a jaunt from east to west and you could be forgiven for missing secret coves and hidden gems, waiting to be explored.

​To help you make the most of your time in Cornwall, Neil Moore, Director of Portscatho Holidays which offers one of the largest selections of holiday cottages in South Cornwall, shares his favourite places to explore:

Lots of little villages make up the Roseland Peninsula, each with their own personality, here are just
three: St Mawes is classic and chic, set against a backdrop of traditional cottages and a pretty harbour;
where you’ll find the base for Portscatho Holidays. St Just in Roseland is where the poet Sir John
Betjeman declared the churchyard ‘the most beautiful on earth’; you can see what he meant when
you wander through the grounds of one of Cornwall’s most visited churches. Portscatho has a
wonderfully sheltered beach for swimming and the all-important sandcastle building; it’s also an
active fishing port where you can buy fish straight off the boat’.

A stop at Knightor Winery is a must-do for me; a working winery nestled in 4 acres of Cornish
hedgerows, pasture and orchard above St Austell Bay. They make you very welcome at both their
winery and shop where you can sample some of their wines and vermouth, or on their pre-booked
tours. They also host wonderful feasts and celebrations, with the finest local produce and of course,
superb wine.

A haven of Italianate design and subtropical planting, I can spend hours wandering round its gravel
paths and through hidden archways. I like to take in the spectacular views over to the lighthouse at
St Anthony’s Head and enjoy a coffee and cake at their café ‘La Terrazza'. Lamorran has been
featured on Gardeners World, as well as in the top 10 of a 'BBC Nation's Favourite Gardens' poll.
Portscatho Holidays take bookings for Lamorran Lodge which is a holiday home right next to the
gardens and gives guests complimentary admission to the gardens.

I often hop on the ferry from St Mawes and head to the aptly named Discovery Quay in Falmouth to
the National Maritime Museum. It’s a fabulous building housing objects from round the world,
telling stories of life on the sea both in Cornwall and internationally. They’ve got family activities on-
site and run education programmes in Cornwall and beyond – a fascinating place to find out more
about how the water has shaped life here in Cornwall. The admission ticket includes unlimited
return visits for the following 12 months!

Built upon on a peninsula jutting out into the Carrick Roads, this artillery fort was constructed by
Henry VIII between 1540 and 1542 to protect against invasion from France. Today it’s managed by
English Heritage and they do a great job of telling its history – amazing to think it remained in use
until the end of WWII where it was used as a secret military base. There is a nice café and plenty of
grassy areas to sit and admire the views.

Portscatho's ‘main beach’ is wide and sandy, with beautiful views both inland and out to sea, at low
tide there is plenty of space for beach games and dogs are welcome all year. As it’s a National Trust
beach it’s well preserved and the real delight here is that you might spot porpoises, dolphins or even
basking sharks. And after a good walk, a game of football or a nature spot you’re not far from the
Hidden Hut café which is becoming a must-go destination in the area.

And once you’ve explored from the land it’s so easy to get onto the water - mini cruises, water taxis
fishing trips and coastal safaris are available all along the coast. The ferry from outside Portscatho
Holidays' base at St Mawes will take you to Falmouth 364 days of the year, swapping a 29 mile road
journey for a 20 minute cruise.

If you want to be more active on the water then The Roseland Peninsula provides some of the best sailing and paddling areas in the country – so many ways to get out there.