New restaurant plans for Truro Wig and Pen pub in Cornwall

The Grade II listed Wig & Pen in Truro has submitted plans to Cornwall Council to create a 22-cover restaurant.

The pub – which hit the headlines in March when a car crashed into it injuring three people – is seeking listed building permission to open a restaurant in the below road level basement. The space has previously been used as a restaurant as well as live music venue and tiny nightclub, but has been unused for a number of years.

Following an 18-month closure, the historic pub reopened in March 2022 under the management of Tom and Lara Trubshaw, who also run the Peterville Inn in St Agnes and were caretaker managers at the Pennycomequick in Falmouth for a time. 

Tom and Lara Trubshaw behind the bar at The Peterville Inn, St Agnes

They lovingly refurbished the Wig & Pen back into the characterful venue beloved of so many people in the Truro area in the 1980s and ’90s. The building was originally constructed as two villas circa 1830 and at some point the two buildings were merged to form a public house.

Once known as The Star Inn, the three-storey pub was then renamed in the 20th century to reflect its location near the county courthouse.

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Since reopening the pub has become renowned for its food, which is served in the bar area, but now they want to create an all-new restaurant downstairs.

Work would initially entail light demolition of the raised floor/stage area, a partial dismantling of a stud wall adjacent to the stairs and the removal of the current oak flooring and tiles. Fixed booth seating would be installed along part of a wall with the remainder of the seating to be free-standing chairs.

The Wig & Pen in Truro has submitted plans to Cornwall Council

The booth seating would  feature plinth heaters and a vented duct to the exterior to allow for ventilation within the room. A wall-mounted waiter station and wine storage would be fixed to a wall near the entrance. The back bar would be retained and improved with new shelves installed on the existing work surface and a new sink and glass wash machine installed. An existing pulpit would be modified and stained to house a wine fridge.

As well as the new restaurant, the pub has applied to build an exterior refuse store and upgrade its fire detection and sounding systems as well as introducing fire doors across both the ground and first floor. A decision will be by Cornwall Council planners on a date to be decided.