Flushing’s Harbour House has entered the prestigious ‘red book’ – the Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland - after just five months of trading. Set on the waterfront in the historic village on the South Cornish coast, Harbour House is a pub that is dedicated to creating and achieving new levels of sustainability in the hospitality industry.
In their December update, the Michelin inspectors praised Harbour House saying: “Undoubtedly the most aptly named restaurant in this month’s selection, Harbour House sits just yards from the water and, at this time of year, welcomes you with a huge Christmas tree outside and a roaring fire inside. The understated cooking is powered by Cornish produce and the fabulous bread is a great way to start. When visiting such a warm, welcoming and good-looking place as this, it will make you wish that every coastal village had somewhere like it.”
Harbour House is owned by Tamara Costin and William Speed who also own the much-acclaimed beachhouse in South Milton Sands and schoolhouse at Mothecombe on the Flete Estate – both in Devon. Both of these establishments also follow a similar upcycling and sustainability-led philosophy and practices. The Harbour House kitchen was opened by Jeffrey Robinson and it has been announced that Andrew Tuck, formerly the acclaimed head chef at the St Kew Inn, is taking the helm as Head Chef of the establishment.
Eighteen new additions, including Harbour House, have been announced for December. The red book's inspectors are on the road year-round and update it's listings monthly with additions highlighted by a ‘New' symbol on the Michelin app and website. Harbour House will receive either a Michelin star, a Bib Gourmand, a Michelin Plate, or another award, but which one will not be known until the next formal Michelin Guide ceremony.
The full Michelin Guide listing for Harbour House says, “Local suppliers are at the heart of this attractively refurbished pub on the Cornish coast. Owing to their seasonal and sustainable approach, the daily changing menus are shaped by local producers.”
It continues, “The cooking is wholly understated, but impressive all the same, with pared-back dishes like homemade crisps with whipped cod's roe, roast brill from Cadgwith and a marvellous panela Basque cheesecake. The set lunch menu offers super value and drinkers are treated to a selection of local beers, best enjoyed outside overlooking the water with a bar snack in hand.”
The new pub establishment in Flushing marks a distinct evolution for the historic waterfront property, formerly known as The Seven Stars. Harbour House serves breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as an all-day bar menu with small plate and bar snacks. All sport an array of dishes that showcase the freshest of produce from the surrounding sea, rivers, fields and gardens.
Key daily suppliers include Soul Food Farm, Sailor’s Creek Seafood, New Dawn Traders, Philip Warren, Footes Pasture Produce, Duchy Game and new independent beef farmer Tresemple. Drinks come from Verdant, Treens, Loveday, Wanderlust Wines, Pocket Full of Stones, St Ives Cider, Find and Foster, Wildling and local Cornish vineyard Trevibban Mill amongst many others.
Owner Tamara Costin says, “Without a doubt, today’s announcement has made our Harbour House Christmas! It was this time last year that we started on the major rejuvenation of the pub, and as anyone who has undertaken a project like this knows, it’s a tough job, but well worth doing! We had an inkling that the Michelin inspectors had been in and they tweeted about us recently, but today’s announcement is the first official notification we’ve had.”
Tamara continues, “This is all testament to every single person that is involved in running our day-to-day Harbour House operation, from every member of our brilliant kitchen and front-of-house team to the ever-hard-working suppliers and makers from around Flushing and across Cornwall and the West Country who toil every day to provide us with some optimum produce and ingredients. We look forward to hearing more from Michelin in the new year and send our thanks to them, and to all of our much-appreciated customers without whose support we couldn’t do this.”
Andrew Tuck takes the helm as Head Chef of the Harbour House kitchen from the beginning of February.
Tamara Costin says, “Andrew Tuck taking up the helm of our open Harbour House kitchen alongside our passionate team, and extensive local suppliers, is a match made in culinary heaven. Our BBQ-based open kitchen will allow Andrew the freedom to showcase his individualistic skills and drive his passion for flame-driven food and flavour, and our unique Harbour House pub menus, to the next level.”
Andrew Tuck says, “The location, styling and philosophy that Tamara and William have set for Harbour House is ideal for me, allowing me to bring my unbridled creativity over the flames to the fore, creating a whole new take on a Cornish pub ‘menu’, all based on the freshest of produce that is picked, plucked or cut from the surrounding lands and seas.”
Andrew’s new Harbour House menu will be launched at the beginning of February and a set of pub feast nights, and charity and chef collaboration evenings and lunches, will also be announced in the near future.
Slán go fóill.