Need to recharge my battery
You know how it is, you have been working hard, helping family members and you are absolutely knackered- I have a new Granddaughter and elderly parents and doing home chores etc – my battery was completely drained. I was exhausted. So much so that the thought of going abroad, standing in airports, waiting for planes and taxis just seemed a bridge too far so my husband and I decided to have a short break in the UK. Having made a decision to have a mini break and after finding I could only get our dogs into kennels for three nights the next decision is where to go.
We had another short break for our daughter’s birthday in Cornwall and the beaches were stunning but we hadn’t had the opportunity to explore so after much faffing we decided to revisit. Next, what hotel? I really wanted something on the beach, with a heated outdoor pool and a sea view, most were out of our budget but eventually we settled on the Carlyon Bay Spa Hotel in St Austell. It ticked most of our boxes, not on the beach but nearby, with indoor and outdoor pool, after all who trusts the English weather, and a sea view room. Boxes ticked we were ready to go!
A name you can trust and why it’s important.
Earlier this year we took my parents to the Belmont Hotel in Sidmouth which had been recommended to us. It is one of a group of nine hotels owned by the Brend family. We had a super time and so we decided to try another one in their collection The Carlyon Bay Spa Hotel. The hotels are maintained to a high standard and are of a good quality. Food is local produce and well cooked, service is good and rooms are very comfortable.
In these days where every penny counts when I am going away, I want to be assured my money is well spent. I wanted to go to a hotel where I would know what to expect as far as comfort and quality were concerned and I wasn’t disappointed.
There were little touches at the hotel that made it special: fresh flower displays, a pillow menu, a concierge that wants to help. Little things but they make the difference. Although each hotel has its own identity, there was a consistency in the quality that was reassuring
Food Glorious Food
My mark of a good hotel is how they make a boiled egg sandwich, its always the first thing I want on a lunch time arrival. I rarely eat an egg sandwich at any other time but on holiday I want one and its always a bug bear if not on the menu and a hotel can’t rustle one up. Fortunately, the hotel had a good lunch time menu and a veritable champ of an egg and cress sandwich, served with a tasty salad and crisps. Note to self, the side order of chips was unnecessary.
Generally, the food was excellent, locally sourced, tasty and well cooked. We tried both the set menu and a la carte and both were good. Our only disappointment one evening were that triple cooked chips clearly weren’t but the matter was dealt with satisfactorily. The scampi was the best I have ever had.
The breakfast offering was plentiful; it was well stocked right up until 10am. There was a large buffet selection and hot offering as well as a menu selection of fish, pancakes and speciality dishes. Definitely something for everyone. One note – we sat at a window table so as to really enjoy the sea view and garden view but during the heat wave this was very hot, the waitress kindly pulled the blinds but maybe consider this when choosing a seat.
In the main dining room, it is nicely furnished with some individual tables and some of a banquette style, you were quite close to people next to you, so if you are sociable this is great but if you want a private conversation, it’s not the best. Just mention to the Maître D your preference.
You have several options for where you dine, the main Bay View restaurant, or the sexy taste of Cornwall Brasserie which is very on trend in black and gold or the Terrace Lounge. We tried them all and enjoyed all three, our favourite was the brasserie as more intimate and cosier with less hurried service.
We also very much enjoyed being able to order on an app to our sun lounger around the pool and gardens. Total laziness but heaven! Having a swim and then a scone, decadence indeed, just what holidays are about.
Talking of swimming
My absolute highlight of the holiday was the outdoor pool; it was heated to a comfortable temperature and was a delight in the heat. Comfortable sunbeds were around the pool, no having to get up at silly o’clock to snare one, people were sensible – hurrah. There were beds and parasols or cabanas in the gardens. The gardens are beautifully maintained with a mix of English planting and an odd exotic and there were small private areas with just a few sunbeds if you wanted to be quite or to have more privacy or shade. Very cleverly thought out. The spa was very pleasant too, just a few sunbeds around a small but functional pool, great if weather inclement, hot tub, steam room and sauna and heated beds. All very relaxing. Top tip- if you want a treatment prebook as they were fully booked whilst we were there.
Let me entertain you
The hotel had some entertainment on but it wasn’t pushed on you just gently mentioned. A quiz night, magician, falconry display, arts and crafts etc. If you had children they had a play room area with activities too. We had lovely evenings sat on the terrace having a glass of sparkle, in front of which is a putting green and it was great to people watch and look for the next Tiger Woods.
The hotel is attached to a stunning golf course and there is a club house which we didn’t visit.
Top tip- ask at reception for them to take you in a buggy to the beach. You are taken over the golf course which is quite an adventure especially when you get to the top of the course and look over at the panoramic coastal view- absolutely breath taking. A real wow moment and a highlight of our holiday. The hotel has their own beach, a small cove, very unspoilt with great rock pools. You can arrange to be dropped off and picked up but be warned there are no facilities, so take drinks and sun hats. There is a larger public beach down the coast.
And so to bed!
We booked a sea view room and I am so glad we did as it was sublime waking up to the beautiful view
Top tip- ask the hotel to remove the window latches if you want to open windows further. They ask you to sign a disclaimer re window safety if you do this and I certainly wouldn’t if travelling with young child or anyone with an impairment.
It was a shame more rooms didn’t have balconies as that would have been extra special, although some suites do have this.
A well furnished room, the bed was comfortable, king sized with good quality bedding. It comes with a duvet but you can request sheets and blankets if you prefer and there is a pillow menu. There was plenty of storage and a safe. Our ensuite had a bath-yay! The toilet was very close to the bath which took a bit of navigation. Good quality bath products and some items you may need like a sewing kit were useful. The room was a good size, the tv was in a good position, not huge but a decent size with a limited selection of channels.
Fresh water was replenished daily and a good mix of drinks were on the tea tray.
Cleanliness in the hotel rooms and throughout the hotel was excellent.
Out and about
Well, I could tell you about all the beautiful villages and towns that are nearby, St Austell, Mevagissey, Fowe and the glorious Cornish beaches that are in close proximity to the hotel except I can’t because we didn’t set foot out of the hotel for four days. We enjoyed the comfort of the hotel and the outdoor pool with the fabulous weather was a haven. I needed to charge my battery and I certainly did. I can’t wait to come back to this lovely hotel, especially if the weather is good. Top tip – rebook before you leave for a £50 deposit and a 15% discount (this may be subject to change)
If you want a quintessential, quality English break away, book it HERE
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