Bodmin’s food and drink scene has been quietly building something special over the last few years. From award-winning pubs and Michelin-recognised dining to independent cafés, local producers and lively street food events, the town is becoming a place where great food feels rooted in community, creativity and Cornwall itself.

At the heart of it all is a strong sense of local pride. You’ll find chefs championing Cornish produce, family-run cafés bringing flavours from around the world to the town centre, and producers supplying restaurants and retailers across the UK.

One of the clearest signs of Bodmin’s growing reputation is the success of Fern Cornwall, just outside the town in nearby Nanstallon. Led by Michelin-trained chef Paul Welburn, the restaurant has earned recognition from the MICHELIN Guide for its modern approach to Cornish dining and focus on seasonal local ingredients. Bodmin’s independent restaurant scene continues to gather momentum too.

Flory Restaurant recently celebrated a double awards success, picking up both a Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award and a Gold Award at the Taste of the West Awards, recognising its commitment to showcasing West Country produce.

The town’s pubs are also gaining national attention. The Hole in the Wall has long been one of Bodmin’s best-loved historic pubs, and in 2025 it was named CAMRA South West Pub of the Year -putting it amongst the top real ale pubs in the country.

Tucked away in The Piazza, you’ll find Native Burger, one of Bodmin’s most popular restaurants. Serving mouth-watering burgers made using local produce, they are winners of both regional and national best casual dining at the 2025 Muddy Awards.

Alongside these destination venues, Bodmin’s food culture is equally shaped by its independent cafés and everyday gathering places. The town has seen a growing number of Portuguese cafés and bakeries bringing fresh pastries, strong coffee and relaxed continental-style hospitality to Cornwall. New openings have quickly built loyal followings, adding another layer to Bodmin’s increasingly varied food scene. Community events are helping bring everything together.

Bodmin Feast – Street Food Evenings have become regular fixtures in the town calendar, filling Mount Folly with food traders, music and people gathering in the centre of town on Friday evenings. Organisers describe the events as a way to bring “great local food, community spirit, and a bit of buzz” into Bodmin.

The wider food and drink economy around Bodmin is just as important to the story. Businesses including Proper Cornish, The Cornish Company Suppliers, Harbour Brewing Co. and Camel Valley Vineyard are all helping put this part of Cornwall on the culinary map, producing and supplying food and drink enjoyed far beyond the county.

And there’s more to come. Food festivals, pop-ups and independent openings continue to grow, while events like eat:Bodmin Food Festival are helping showcase local producers and bring new visitors into the town.

Whether it’s a pint in a centuries-old pub, street food on Mount Folly, coffee and pastel de nata in a tucked-away café, or a Michelin-recognised meal in the countryside nearby, Bodmin’s food and drink scene is becoming one of the town’s most exciting stories.

With thanks to Harbour Brewery, Flory and Fern Cornwall for the photos featured in this article.

A new tourism campaign has been launched to position Bodmin as one of Cornwall’s most distinctive destinations – marking the culmination of a year-long collaboration between local partners, businesses and community organisations. 

The campaign, More to Bodmin, introduces a bold new destination identity for the town – one that invites visitors to discover a place that reveals more the deeper you explore. 

The campaign represents the creation of a new tourism body for Bodmin, bringing together partners under a shared vision to raise the town’s profile, encourage longer stays and connect visitors with a wider range of experiences. 

Importantly, a major aim of the project is also to celebrate a sense of local pride and community amongst those living in Bodmin – a town full of residents fully aware of how special their stories and spaces really are, and happy to share those secrets.  

Launched in early April, the campaign is supported by a new website alongside an outdoor and print media campaign, designed to reach new audiences and inspire visits throughout the year. 

The campaign shines a light on the many layers that make Bodmin unique. Visitors are invited to experience history you can touch, from the atmospheric stories of Bodmin Jail and Railway to the rich collections held at Bodmin Keep and the Town Museum. Alongside this, wild landscapes within easy reach offer space to explore, with the Camel Trail, Cardinham Woods and surrounding moorland providing opportunities for adventure, wellbeing and discovery. 

At the centre of Bodmin’s offer is its people. The campaign celebrates a town that is loved by its community, where markets, events and everyday moments create a warm and authentic sense of place. This is complemented by a programme of culture in motion, from festivals and performances to creative spaces like The Beat and intoBodmin. People can get hands-on with interactive experiences at science museum Discovering42 and get creative with workshops at Bodmin Gallery. 

Bringing everything together is a focus on connected discoveries – encouraging visitors to move between experiences, uncover hidden corners and build their own journeys through Bodmin’s stories, landscapes and communities. 

Councillor Leigh Frost, Councillor for Bodmin St Petroc and Leader of Cornwall Council Cabinet says “Bodmin has always been a place of remarkable stories, rich character and warm community spirit. What’s exciting about the More to Bodmin campaign is that it brings all of this together in a way that truly reflects who we are. It shines a light on the heritage, landscapes and creativity that make our town special, while celebrating the people who give Bodmin its heart.” 

Developed collaboratively with a wide range of local stakeholders, the campaign provides businesses and organisations with a shared platform, tools and messaging to amplify their own offer while contributing to a stronger overall destination. 

Over the past year, a group of dedicated individuals and organisations have formed a new tourism committee for the town. Partners include Bodmin Gallery, Bodmin Jail, Bodmin Keep, Bodmin Railway, Bodmin Town Council, Bodmin Town Museum, Cardinham Woods, Discovering42, intoBodmin, National Trust’s Lanhydrock and St Petroc’s Church. 

Working with Cornwall Council’s Experience project, which has funded the new campaign and will continue to support the town to establish the tourism body over the next 12 months, their aim is to set up a plan to keep the town front of mind those looking for things to do – whether that’s the holiday market, residents of Cornwall and the community of Bodmin.  

As the campaign rolls out over the next few weeks, visitors will be encouraged to look beyond the expected – uncovering stories, experiences and connections that reveal there is always more to Bodmin.