The Old Quay House Hotel
The Old Quay House Hotel
The Old Quay House Hotel in Fowey is one of Cornwall’s hidden gems. Originally, as a tin sign says, a home for aged and pensioned seamen, the 150-year-old boarding house was transformed by architects into a calm haven, with cream colours, great service and lovely broad beds.
The 11 bedrooms at the Old Quay House are decorated in either a New England style, a low-key luxury look or a brooding purple boudoir feel. Some have roll-top baths, others have Javanese banana leaf headboards and all have Egyptian cotton-sheets; the penthouse suite is stunning, with a polished wooden floor, claw-foot bath and an enormous, commanding bed.
In the waterfront Q restaurant, the bistro-style food is sophisticated and glamorous – unsurprisingly, given that chef Ben Bass trained under Raymond Blanc. Eating oysters on the terrace overlooking the estuary, you get a private view of the hidden life of the town.
Browsing Fowey’s tightly packed streets and interiors shops is a real must, walking from the head of the estuary to St Catherine’s Castle (built to defend the town by Henry VIII), and fending off seagulls while eating fish and chips by the sea. And it’s equally as romantic in the winter months when storms lash the bay and the tourist traffic is minimal.
Highs:
- The views of the boats from the terrace
- Fantastic food – and it’s local, sustainable and organic too
Lows:
- Not all rooms have estuary views
- Driving in Fowey is an experience to say the least. And you have to park a little way from the hotel
Facilities & Important Info at The Old Quay House
Number of rooms: 11
Check-in/check-out times: 2pm and 11am
Room service: On request
Swimming pool: No
Spa: No
Child-friendly: Children under 12 are not allowed to stay in the hotel
Restaurant & bar: The restaurant seats 32; the bar can seat around 16
Location: In the town of Fowey, a third of the way down Cornwall’s south coast, where winding streets, hidden coves and antique shops speak of a smuggling past
Distance to nearest train station/airport: 20 minutes from St Austell train station. 1 hours 30 minutes from Exeter train station. 45 minutes from Newquay airport and 5 hours by car from London.
