Food Shopping

Food shopping is important, sourcing great food can be hugely enjoyable and really adds to the experience while on holiday.

Beach shops

Right in the centre of our area is Constantine Bay Stores. It can be found in the centre of Constantine on the corner of the road down to the beach. It is next door to the Constantine Bay Surf Store. You can buy a good range of bread and vegetables and a small range of fresh meat. You will also find plenty of higher quality staple foods, wine and beer. If you are early, the pasties and croissants are good. Constantine Bay Stores may well be a frequent stop whichever beach you are staying at, but particularly so if you are staying at Constantine or Treyarnon.

At Treyarnon itself, Gary’s shop/Treyarnon Bay Beach Stores in the car park sells more than you might imagine. A real tardis-like shop, fresh bread and croissant are available. Newspapers and milk in the morning are a regular stop – with children often being sent across the beach from houses such as The Buck, from where you can watch the children all the way! Always try here first.

At Porthcothan, Porthcothan Stores is open every day from April to the end of October. Basic groceries can be bought here. A real joy to have somewhere to sell you bread and papers every morning of your holiday.

Trevone has The Shop at Trevone farm on the road down to the beach. It provides a range of pasties as well as daily basics and is open 7 days a week all year. Right on the beach is Trevone beach stores who offer basic day to day necessities for those who don’t want to trail to Padstow to get their milk, bread, newspaper and toiletries.

At Booby’s Bay, basics can be bought at a small shop on the caravan park on the way back down Trevose Head. Its the 2nd entrance on the way back.

Bread

As well as plenty of good bread at some of the beach shops mentioned above, Barnecutts in St Merryn is a good stop. This is a good quality local baker providing everything you would expect.

For artisan breads at a price, Rick Stein’s deli at the quay in Padstow supplies amazing sourdoughs and tiger breads. Some bread may also be sold at Rick Stein’s small shop in the centre of Padstow.

Or, try the Padstow Farm shop which supplies Vicky’s great bread – baked with love in Helston. Great sourdough!

Meat

Head for Padstow Farm Shop. It can be found just outside Padstow. If coming from St Merryn, where the road forks left into Padstow, take a sharp left towards Hawker’s Cove. It can be found on the left after a few hundred yards. Also, if staying at Trevone, the back road that runs around the top of the beach will take you on the back roads to the Farm Shop. Good fun. A full butchers can be found here (as well as much else!).

Rick Stein’s deli at the quay in Padstow also sells good quality meat. Other current options are the butchers in St Columb – Peter Morris or Williams and Son in Wadebridge.

Veg and cheese

Again the Padstow Farmshop excels. The vegetables are fresh and tasty and much are produced on the farm. At the farmshop there is also a good cheese counter. Also worth visiting are Padstow Kitchen Garden on the A389 Padstow road, and Pentruse Farm Shop on the road between Rumford crossroad and the B3274.

Fish and seafood

Unfortunately buying fish off a boat is a rarity, but there are other options to try in Padstow. On the way in, turn right at the hairpin just below the Padstow Harbour Hotel to go to Padstow’s South Quay area. Here there are 2 options for fish and seafood: Rick Stein’s deli itself, and Padstow fisheries next door. Check the prices and the queues and take your pick. If you are after something special (perhaps an octopus) or want to make sure that some squid will be left over, then give either of these shops a ring in advance.

Other stores

St Merryn has a good range of shops for last minute food supplies. The petrol station sells a huge range of hardware  and there is one general grocery shop and Barnecutt’s Bakery for a nice selection of breads, cakes and pastries. Again, take your pick between the two, both are yards from the main cross-roads.