Michael Caines set to open new Portheleven site, The Harbourside Refuge

Porthleven locals and visitors are now able to experience Michael Caines’ latest venue, The Harbourside Refuge, Restaurant and Bar.

The waterside site, acquired in July by the Michael Caines Collection, will have a soft opening, initially with limited capacity.

Chef Michael Caines says, ‘I am very excited about the opening of The Harbourside Refuge, Restaurant and Bar, which is our second opening this year in Cornwall. Situated in an idyllic spot by the harbour in England’s most southerly port, this lovely small town is rich in culture and history and in recent years has become renowned as a food-lover’s destination. We are looking forward to revealing fully our plans for the restaurant in the future but for now our priority is to re-open the restaurant so that it can once more welcome locals and visitors alike with an outstanding food offering, featuring the finest Cornish produce.”’

Paying homage to its enviable quayside position, The Harbourside Refuge will offer a relaxed dining experience inspired by its sea-side setting and the abundance of excellent produce found locally, not only the wonderful selection of fresh fish and shellfish, but meat, game, dairy produce plus seasonal vegetables and fruit, as well as a selection of beverages sourced from the South West.

Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner between Wednesday and Sunday, The Harbourside Refuge menus will change with the seasons but have an emphasis on fish and seafood with local produce in dishes such as: Cornish mackerel with gooseberry and grain mustard relish, and Cornish crab, prawns and avocado salad plus Cornish steaks from the grill.

Daily specials will be inspired by local suppliers and fishermen and feature the best food this abundant county has to offer.

Michael is pleased to welcome Andrew Griffiths to his team as the restaurant manager. With over 25 years’ experience in the hospitality industry Andrew is thrilled to be working with Michael at The Harbourside Refuge and looks forward to becoming part of the local community.

Trevor Osborne, of the Porthleven Harbour & Dock Company, which includes the site of the new restaurant, commented; "I am delighted that Michael Caines has decided to open his latest restaurant in Porthleven, and confident that he will add to the thriving food scene which is already firmly established here. The South West is Michael’s home and I know that he is inspired by both the produce and the people here in Cornwall. I am confident that with his outstanding reputation and award-winning food Michael’s new restaurant on Porthleven’s beautiful harbourside will be an excellent addition to our community and complement the impressive list of distinguished chefs already working here.’"

The Harbourside Refuge is Michael’s second venture in Cornwall and is a welcome addition to the Michael Caines Collection which currently comprises luxury country house hotel and restaurant Lympstone Manor, The Cove at Maenporth, and a new project in Exmouth.

In these challenging times…

The Staff Canteen team are taking a different approach to keeping our website independent and delivering content free from commercial influence. Our Editorial team have a critical role to play in informing and supporting our audience in a balanced way. We would never put up a paywall – The Staff Canteen is open to all and we want to keep bringing you the content you want; more from younger chefs, more on mental health, more tips and industry knowledge, more recipes and more videos. We need your support right now, more than ever, to keep The Staff Canteen active. Without your financial contributions this would not be possible.

Over the last 16 years, The Staff Canteen has built what has become the go-to platform for chefs and hospitality professionals. As members and visitors, your daily support has made The Staff Canteen what it is today. Our features and videos from the world’s biggest name chefs are something we are proud of. We have over 560,000 followers across Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and other social channels, each connecting with chefs across the world. Our editorial and social media team are creating and delivering engaging content every day, to support you and the whole sector - we want to do more for you.

A single coffee is more than £2, a beer is £4.50 and a large glass of wine can be £6 or more.

Support The Staff Canteen from as little as £1 today. Thank you.