Fisherman’s Friends
The “Platt”, or harbour in Port Isaac is where the Fisherman’s Friends story really began back in 1991.
Singing sea songs and raising money for charity, the Fisherman’s Friends have been gathering on the Platt in Port Isaac for over 25 years. What started out as a bit of fun on a Friday night soon became a must-see event for locals and holiday makers alike. Their bond is a lifelong friendship and a shared experience. They were convinced to sign a million-pound record deal ten years ago, and as a result, their album Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends went gold, making them the first traditional folk act to have an album rank in the UK’s top ten.
A film called “Fisherman’s Friends” was released in 2019 and is based on the group’s discovery and record deal. It made almost $10 million at the box office, proving it was a success.
The second film, “Fisherman’s Friends One And All,” which follows the group from the heights of stardom on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury, through the lows of struggling to make a 2nd album, was released in 2022.
The current Band members are lobster fisherman Jeremy Brown, writer and shopkeeper Jon Cleave, smallholder and engineer John ‘Lefty’ Lethbridge, builder John McDonnell, lobster fisherman Jason Nicholas, filmmaker Toby Lobb and potter Bill Hawkins.
For both of the films, the actual location used was the real picturesque seaside harbour village of Port Isaac, on the north Cornwall coast.
Fisherman’s Friends
Director: Chris Foggin
Writers: Nick Moorcroft, Meg Leonard & Piers Ashworth
IMDB more info
Fisherman’s Friends: One and All
Directors: Meg Leonard & Nick Moorcroft
Writers: Nick Moorcroft, Meg Leonard & Piers Ashworth
IMDB more info
Credit: Chris Hewitt
When it’s not starring in films, Port Isaac is a traditional, working fishing village. You’ll find rows of delightful quaint whitewashed cottages, as well as galleries.
There are plenty of places to have something to eat; from the more simple fare through to 1 Michelin star restaurants. There are two of which that are owned by Chef Nathan Outlaw – Fish Kitchen & Outlaw’s New Road.
Port Isaac’s residents are old hats at giving up their village for film crews. Some scenes from the original 1970s Poldark series were filmed there, as well as Saving Grace, the film preceding the television series, Doc Martin, and Blue Juice.