Portscatho has always been shaped by the sea. While neighbouring Gerrans was largely agricultural, Portscatho grew as a working fishing village, with boats launching from Gerrans Bay for centuries.

Records from as early as the 1600s describe pilchard boats working along the Cornish coast, and the shoreline fish cellars that remain today were once busy places, where catches were cleaned, salted, and packed for export across Europe.

The Plume of Feathers has stood at the centre of this village life ever since.

The Plume of Feathers was built in 1756 for the Jennings family, and remains one of Portscatho's oldest and most enduring buildings. For generations, it has stood as a welcome landmark above the harbour, a place of rest, warmth, and conversation at the heart of village life.

By 1791, the inn was already well established, advertised as a “well accustomed inn,” complete with stabling, gardens, and productive land, a reminder of the important role such places played for travellers arriving by land and sea.

More than two centuries on, the Plume continues to welcome guests in the very same spirit.

Like many inns of its time, the Plume once brewed its own beer beneath the pub, in what is now the cellar bar. It's a small but fascinating reminder of how self-sufficient village life once was, with brewing, storage, and gathering all taking place under one roof.

Water was channelled in from the village pump just outside, travelling through wooden guttering and entering through a hole in the wall, a feature that can still be seen today.

A quiet detail of the past, still woven into the fabric of the building.

In the 19th century, Cornwall began to change. When the railway reached Truro in 1859, travel to the coast became far easier, and Portscatho soon began to welcome visitors arriving by train, boat, and even horse-drawn transport.

Drawn by the sea air, sheltered harbour, and timeless beauty of the Roseland Peninsula, people came to experience village life by the bay — and the Plume remained a natural gathering place at the heart of it all.

From working fishing village to much-loved seaside escape, the story of Portscatho continued to unfold.

For more than 250 years, the Plume of Feathers has remained a natural meeting place for fishermen, locals, travellers, and holidaymakers alike. Through changing times, it has continued to offer warmth, hospitality, and a sense of belonging at the heart of Portscatho.

Today, we’re proud to carry that history forward, welcoming guests for good food, a drink by the sea, and the simple pleasure of gathering in one of Cornwall’s most beautiful coastal villages.

Whether you’re joining us for a quiet pint or a stay on the Roseland, you’re part of the story too.