The new Fisherman’s Friends film showcases the photogenic side of Cornwall...
Fisherman’s Friends: One and All in Cinemas 19 August
Ed Grenby - 4 August 2022
They may call themselves a “buoy band”, but the shanty-singing Fisherman’s Friends aren’t the eye-candy in their latest comedy drama. Having charmed cinema-goers in their 2018 debut, they’re back in cinemas from Friday (19 August) with Fisherman’s Friends: One and All – but playing second fiddle to the good looks of their Cornish homeland. Here are five of its prettiest villages.…
ANCIENT WORLD WONDERS PORT ISAAC
The Fisherman’s Friends’ home village features heavily in the film, and you’ll also have seen it in Poldark and Doc Martin. In the former, it brought storm-battered granite and slate-fronted houses, with narrow winding lanes. As Portwenn in Doc Martin, it showcased its cheerful white-washed cottages and the stream tinkling winsomely through the centre. For tourists, it has all of that plus a pleasantly bustling little harbour, great restaurants (including two led by local hero Nathan Outlaw), and proximity to fine sandy beaches such as Polzeath.
MULLION
Big enough for inns, delicatessens, art galleries, craft shops and even a golf course, Mullion nevertheless sits happily on the west coast of the Lizard Peninsula in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There’s a lovely harbour in Mullion Cove – built for the pilchard fishermen in 1895 – but you’re also only a good stroll along the South West Coast Path from the beaches of Kynance Cove, Poldhu and Polurrian Coves, and the latter’s wonderful old Polurrian Hotel – home to Clark Gable when he filmed Never Let Me Go here in 1953. Fish ’n’ clips The new Fisherman’s Friends film showcases the photogenic side of Cornwall...
CHARLESTOWN
For a touch of timewarp-on-sea, try this tiny Georgian port – so perfectly preserved it’s appeared in Hornblower, Mansfield Park, Alice in Wonderland and Doctor Who. Less twee than some of its neighbours, it mixes stately sea-captains’ houses with fishermen’s cottages, and at any given time plays host to at least one tall ship. There are good cafés and the Eden Project is only ten minutes’ drive away.
BOSCASTLE
Most of Boscastle is owned by the National Trust, and its thatched cottages and tiny harbour co-starred with Ralph Fiennes and Cate Blanchett in Oscar and Lucinda. This part of the coastline is romantic and myth-wreathed, even by Cornish standards: just four miles south is ruined Tintagel Castle, long held to be King Arthur’s seat, and a fantastically atmospheric – and now accessible – day trip, thanks to a “floating” bridge the Trust built in 2019.
MOUSEHOLE
Dylan Thomas described “Muzzle” (as it’s pronounced) as the loveliest village in England, and no one’s arguing. The name comes from the harbour’s narrow mouth – small enough to keep fishing boats safe. That said, every November timber beams are laid across it to protect the boats from the worst weather. Winter visitors are treated not just to lovely Christmas lights, but also the sight of high-tide waves crashing over the wall into the harbour. From Mousehole, you’re also only 25 minutes’ drive from the open-air Minack Theatre – complete with wonderful views and an important part in Fisherman’s Friends: One and All…
They may call themselves a “buoy band”, but the shanty-singing Fisherman’s Friends aren’t the eye-candy in their latest comedy drama. Having charmed cinema-goers in their 2018 debut, they’re back in cinemas from Friday (19 August) with Fisherman’s Friends: One and All – but playing second fiddle to the good looks of their Cornish homeland. Here are five of its prettiest villages.…
ANCIENT WORLD WONDERS PORT ISAAC
The Fisherman’s Friends’ home village features heavily in the film, and you’ll also have seen it in Poldark and Doc Martin. In the former, it brought storm-battered granite and slate-fronted houses, with narrow winding lanes. As Portwenn in Doc Martin, it showcased its cheerful white-washed cottages and the stream tinkling winsomely through the centre. For tourists, it has all of that plus a pleasantly bustling little harbour, great restaurants (including two led by local hero Nathan Outlaw), and proximity to fine sandy beaches such as Polzeath.
MULLION
Big enough for inns, delicatessens, art galleries, craft shops and even a golf course, Mullion nevertheless sits happily on the west coast of the Lizard Peninsula in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There’s a lovely harbour in Mullion Cove – built for the pilchard fishermen in 1895 – but you’re also only a good stroll along the South West Coast Path from the beaches of Kynance Cove, Poldhu and Polurrian Coves, and the latter’s wonderful old Polurrian Hotel – home to Clark Gable when he filmed Never Let Me Go here in 1953. Fish ’n’ clips The new Fisherman’s Friends film showcases the photogenic side of Cornwall...
CHARLESTOWN
For a touch of timewarp-on-sea, try this tiny Georgian port – so perfectly preserved it’s appeared in Hornblower, Mansfield Park, Alice in Wonderland and Doctor Who. Less twee than some of its neighbours, it mixes stately sea-captains’ houses with fishermen’s cottages, and at any given time plays host to at least one tall ship. There are good cafés and the Eden Project is only ten minutes’ drive away.
BOSCASTLE
Most of Boscastle is owned by the National Trust, and its thatched cottages and tiny harbour co-starred with Ralph Fiennes and Cate Blanchett in Oscar and Lucinda. This part of the coastline is romantic and myth-wreathed, even by Cornish standards: just four miles south is ruined Tintagel Castle, long held to be King Arthur’s seat, and a fantastically atmospheric – and now accessible – day trip, thanks to a “floating” bridge the Trust built in 2019.
MOUSEHOLE
Dylan Thomas described “Muzzle” (as it’s pronounced) as the loveliest village in England, and no one’s arguing. The name comes from the harbour’s narrow mouth – small enough to keep fishing boats safe. That said, every November timber beams are laid across it to protect the boats from the worst weather. Winter visitors are treated not just to lovely Christmas lights, but also the sight of high-tide waves crashing over the wall into the harbour. From Mousehole, you’re also only 25 minutes’ drive from the open-air Minack Theatre – complete with wonderful views and an important part in Fisherman’s Friends: One and All…
ED GRENBY