Sharp's Brewery Shop

The Sharp's Brewery Shop sits just outside Splatt in North Cornwall, and it's genuinely worth a stop if you're staying anywhere near Padstow or Wadebridge. This isn't a theme park or a visitor centre with theme music - it's a proper working brewery gift shop where you can actually buy their beer, merchandise, and sometimes catch a glimpse of the operation beyond the glass.

What you get is straightforward: the chance to pick up Sharp's own ales (Doom Bar is their big hitter) at brewery prices, plus branded kit if you're into that sort of thing. Depending on the day, there might be brewery tours on offer, though you'll need to check ahead on their website as timings aren't fixed. The real appeal is the authenticity - this is where the stuff is actually made, not some tourist attraction bolted on as an afterthought.

It works best for ale enthusiasts and serious drinkers doing a brewery run. Families with young kids won't find much to hold their attention for long, and it's definitely not a rainy-day activity. Allow 30 minutes to an hour, longer if you're joining a tour. The location is handy if you're based at Padstow Holiday Village or St Minver Holiday Park - just a short drive inland from the coast. Go mid-week if you can; weekends draw the Instagram crowd.