Firehouse St Ives: bay views & big roasts

If you want somewhere close to the harbour with great food and the sort of value locals quietly keep to themselves, Firehouse on Fore Street is a solid shout.

We visited on a windy Sunday just before Christmas, straight off a coastal walk and ready to refuel. We’d heard good things, and the Christmas decorations gave us the nudge through the door.

We turned up without a booking and the friendly staff managed to squeeze us in. After 10 minutes they even offered to move us to a window seat when one freed up, but we stayed put. Once you have taken your coat off and started reading the menu, moving feels like admin.

If you do want the bay view - and it is breathtaking - you will definitely need to book. Book anyway if you can - we understand the Firehouse is a local favourite.

What we ate

We ordered the sirloin roast and the nut roast. Portions are generous, in a way that feels rare nowadays. If you have been out for a coastal walk, this is exactly what you need.

The sirloin was cooked medium-rare and came with horseradish crème fraiche. The nut roast was full of flavour and came with cranberry, bread sauce, and rosemary gravy.

Both plates arrived with audibly crisp roast potatoes, honey roasted parsnips, greens, carrot and swede mash, and braised red cabbage. There was also an epic Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, and plenty of gravy.

And then came a bowl of cauliflower (Manchego) cheese. Because they weren’t taking any chances that we might leave even slightly hungry.

Dessert

No pudding for us this time. We were done. Properly done. But we did clock the sticky toffee pudding and warm chocolate brownie for next time.

What else is on the menu?

The main menu covers things like flame-grilled steaks, rotisserie chicken, gourmet burgers, and local seafood. Lunch specials include classics like Moules frites, locally caught fish and chips, and steak sandwiches.

Good to know

It is family friendly, with a kids menu full of favourites like burgers, chicken nuggets, and mac and cheese. It is also dog friendly. We ended up chatting with a couple of locals while two Cairn Terrier puppies in Christmas coats stole the show.

We’ll be back

Friendly service, delicious food and great portions guarantee it. We’ll take the kids next time. Then again maybe we won’t - the extensive cocktail menu looks like adult business. Mine will be a Cornish Garden, made with Cornish chilli Gin, elderflower, lime, Sea Buck elderflower tonic, cucumber and mint.

If you are in St Ives in the run-up to Christmas - or at any other time of year - the Firehouse is an easy place to recommend.

Firehouse, St Ives: details

Firehouse, St Ives is a 40-minute walk from Carbis Bay Lodge.

Address: 27 Fore Street, St Ives, Cornwall, TR26 1AB

Opening times: Monday to Sunday, 12pm to 11pm

Sunday roasts: 12pm to 5pm

Phone: 01736 799664

Web: https://www.firehousestives.co.uk/

Booking: recommended, especially for a window table