One of Cornwall's most famous pubs has banned fox hunts from meeting on its land.

The Jamaica Inn at Bolventor has banned the East Cornwall Foxhounds after they invited the Duke of Beaufort’s Hunt to attend their meet at the pub last Saturday (March 12).

The pub landlord described the decision to hold the joint meet as “extremely ill advised” and taking into account “the passionate views of some of the inn’s customers the owner has decided to no longer allow any future hunt at Jamaica Inn.”

The decision has been praised by hundreds of people online.

The meet took place shortly after a decision was made to prosecute two members of the Duke of Beaufort’s Hunt for offences under the Hunting Act – the joint-master and huntsman Matt Ramsden, and whipper-in Rhys Matcham – following allegations of illegal hunting.

Chris Luffingham, director of external affairs at animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports, has welcomed the move.

He said: “We welcome this move by the landlord to ban hunts from his pub – it ties in with the mood of the general public, the vast majority of whom are sick and tired of this cruel and barbaric activity.

“Enough is enough. Hunts have repeatedly been witnessed chasing foxes across the British countryside despite the ban and the public’s revulsion at such activity – it’s now time for more businesses across the UK to enhance their ethical credentials by breaking all ties to fox hunts.”

The move comes off the back of the world of fox hunting being rocked by a landmark court case in October 2021 in which a senior judge dismissed ‘trail’ hunting – the term often used by hunts – as a cover for old fashioned illegal hunting.