I stayed at the Fowey Hall Hotel in May 2021 in the ‘Hoskins’ rooms, which cost £619 with breakfast included.
Overview
The striking Victorian hotel is perfectly positioned to explore the Cornish coastal town of Fowey. Sat overlooking the fishing and sailing ports, with enviable views of the south Cornish coast, the hotel is a short stroll from the town’s olde worlde pubs, quirky gift shops and traditional Cornish bakeries.
There’s plenty to do in situ but if you’re not pressed for time, take the Boddinick Ferry by car and visit the pretty nearby village of Polperro.
Décor and vibe
The imposing building is said to have inspired the creation of Toad Hall – the grand abode of lovable Mr Toad from The Wind in the Willows. Refurbished last July, the unique interior is a mix of original furniture with artwork and hand-carved wooden pieces sourced from local craftspeople, proudly promoting Cornish products.
Although primarily a luxury hotel fit for families, couples are also welcome here thanks to the adults-only dining room, plus a long outdoor terrace which takes in the serene surrounding views. Set within five acres of inviting, well-kept grounds that beckon you to take a stroll, it’s a bonus that your prized pooches are welcome in this dog-friendly hotel.
Children are spoilt for choice (and kept occupied) with an elaborate garden play area, again hand-carved by locals. There’s a cosy library, a games room with retro arcade machines, nursery with childcare, cinema room and a quaint on-site shop selling local artisan gifts. The environment both inside and out is refined yet relaxed.
Services and facilities
- Room service
- Pool
- Laundry
- Parking
- Fitness centre and spa
- Hot tub
- Restaurant and bar
- OFSTED-registered creche and babysitting
Rooms (and suites)
Though each room is individually designed, the overall theme is cool and calming with grey and blue walls and tiles, injected with bright bursts of yellow and orange chairs and cushions.
Of the 36 rooms there are 12 family suites, featuring interconnecting bedrooms, where children’s quarters have quirky toy dog characters on the walls, each with fun attire such as glasses or even a smoking pipe. There are also children’s books to read in these rooms, borrowed from the local library and rotated.
A good night’s sleep is guaranteed on top of a luxury mattress from The White Company. Opt for a room with a sea view and sink into a comfy chair to take it all in.
Elemis toiletries compliment the modern, stylish bathrooms and, in keeping with increasingly environmentally aware guests, the coffee machines use plastic-free compostable capsules.
Food and drink
The hotel team certainly make use of the produce on the hotel’s doorstep with a seasonally changing ‘Market Menu’. Expect to find ingredients such as Fowey mussels, Cornish brie and new potatoes, Treleavens ice cream, fudge from the shop down the road, fresh fish collected from the fish market by the chef every morning and incredible pastries from nearby Da Bara Bakery.
The friendly, knowledgeable staff are passionate about the locality of the produce and are on-hand to guide you through the menu options. For dinner, I had crostini topped with Cornish crab, followed by perfectly cooked local Mevagissey lemon sole, fennel salad, roasted Cornish new potatoes, East Coast brown shrimp butter, and rounded off with a Cornish cheese platter.
Nibbles are available throughout the day, ranging from a traditional afternoon tea accompanied by the famous Cornish clotted cream to healthier platters of hummus and crudités.
More information about Fowey Hall Hotel
Prices: spring/summer from £279/night B&B; low season from £179/night B&B. For more information and bookings, visit the hotel website.