Paul and Emma Ainsworth take over Sharp’s Brewery pub from Nathan Outlaw

Chef Paul Ainsworth and his wife Emma are extending their Cornish empire with the lease to Sharp’s Brewery-backed pub The Mariners, following the departure of Nathan Outlaw last month.

The move is the couple’s first venture outside of foodie hotspot Padstow, where they operate two restaurants and a boutique hotel, with a cookery school opening in May this year.

The Mariners pub is located across the Camel Estuary from Padstow in the fishing village of Rock.

The couple are taking over the venture from fellow chef and friend Nathan Outlaw, who described his departure last month as a “huge decision”. Outlaw had operated the pub for five years but made the decision to step away last month, after announcing in December 2018 that he was moving away from the Capital Hotel after a six-year partnership, and would be opening a new restaurant at London’s Goring Hotel.

Commenting on their new partnership, Paul Ainsworth said: “Emma and I are thrilled to be taking over The Mariners in partnership with Sharp’s Brewery. When the opportunity arose, we knew straight away that we had to take it. 2019 will very much be the ‘discovery phase’ – learning what works and what doesn’t – with a refurbishment planned for 2020.

“Nathan has done a fantastic job over the past five years and we certainly have big shoes to fill. We’re incredibly excited for what the future holds and are committed to ensuring the long-term success of The Mariners and keeping this Cornish jewel a destination for the local community and holidaymakers alike.”

Ed Hughes, beer sommelier at Sharp’s Brewery said: “We are hugely excited to announce our new partnership with Paul and Emma Ainsworth at The Mariners. Paul and his team have been great supporters of Sharp’s Brewery over the years and we can’t wait to work together on this new joint venture.

“We at Sharp’s are committed to producing quality beer from our brewery in Rock, just a mile up the road from the iconic Mariners pub. We also happily acknowledge that our skills and expertise lie in brewing beer so, to have such an amazing team running the front of house and the kitchen is a dream come true.”

Having worked under Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing, Ainsworth moved to Padstow and opened No. 6 in 2005. He later relaunched the restaurant as Paul Ainsworth at No.6 in 2008 and it won a Michelin star in 2013. Ainsworth also runs Italian restaurant Rojano’s in the Square, which he acquired in 2010 and the Padstow Townhouse, launched in 2015.

Last month Paul and Emma, together with head chef John Walton, announced plans to open a cookery school and a chef’s table experience called Mahé.

The school will be based in a site adjoining No. 6 and is scheduled to open in May this year.

During the day it will operate as a cookery school with space for up to six people, while in the evening it will be turned into a chef’s table experience with a capacity for 10.