Artist Residence Penzance - hotel review

Penzance's quirky boutique hotel has had an upmarket update, says Kate Lough
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Kate Lough16 September 2017

Owners Justin and Charlotte Salisbury opened this design-led outpost of their quirky hotel group in south Cornwall in 2010. This summer, they updated two bedrooms with a more luxurious feel and there's a group cottage to follow in September.

Where is it:

In the old quarter of Penzance, just up the road a little further towards town from the stylish boutique B&B Chapel House.

Style

A boutique hotel in the old quarter of Penzance, the Artist Residence launched with 17 bedrooms in a 16th century Grade II listed Georgian manor house. The aim of the style game is eclectic yet homely luxury – like its sister hotels in London’s Pimlico and Brighton. Rooms are homely with retro details and colourful murals and artwork: think velvet armchairs, creaky wooden floorboards, roll top baths and Roberts radios. In the communal rooms exposed brick walls mix with a log fire, plush sofas and cheeky artwork..

Facilities

The facilities are food and drink-based – my kind of place: a cosy restaurant called The Cornish Barn, two bars, a beer garden with a ping pong table and table football and a cosy sitting room with a roaring fire for chilly winter nights. All are packed with locals and holidayers, not just guests lending a buzzy vibe.

Food & Drink

The main event is the Cornish Barn Smokehouse & Bar. The menu focuses on fresh Cornish meat and fish – which are cured, smoked, smoked and charred - and foraged and seasonal produce, with some of the wine even coming from local vineyards. For a standout starter try the hake with parsley sauce and samphire and then move onto the mains from the smoker – the flavour is quite intense so make sure you’re a fan of it. Breakfast is a very serious matter here, local Cornish coffee and juices from the nearby Polygoon orchards come alongside comforting classics like smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, American pancakes and beans on toast.

The Cornish Barn & Smokehouse

Extra-curricular

Penzance has plenty to offer. There’s the Art Deco Jubilee Pool, which has just re-opened and is just down the road. There are also contemporary art galleries, antique shops, a vineyard nearby, top class restaurants and Cornwall’s best ice cream to try. Jump in your car and Land’s End is a short drive, as are some exceptionally beautiful beaches and St Ives.

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Which room

It does make a difference. Each of the rooms is uniquely decorated by owners Charlotte and Justin with one-off pieces of furniture and carefully curated prints in the ‘house’ rooms and original murals designed by British artists in the ‘arty rooms’. New for summer 2016 are two decidedly more upmarket rooms: the Comfy Luxe and the Super Comdy Luxe. Our tip would be the light and bright Comfy Luxe which features a stylish but traditional roll top bath in the bedroom (very romantic) and a king size sleigh-style bed upholstered in smart, neutral stripes – set alongside vintage furniture and retro silver lamps. All rooms come with Roberts radios, swanky TVs and mini-fridges stocked with local goodies.

The comfy luxe's roll top bath

Handily for larger groups, there are also apartments for larger groups and a very stylish cottage opening in September.

Best for

Anyone really – couples can loll about in the new rooms’ luxurious baths and friends can commandeer the cottages.

Any downsides

The older rooms on the ground floor can be a bit hot and noisy – but it’s the Cornish coast, so expect the seagulls to rule your sleep pattern wherever you sleep.

The comfy luxe

When to go

Cornwall is beautiful – and unpredictable – weather-wise at any time. Spring, summer, autumn and winter - all are good options.

Details

Follow Kate on Twitter @kate_lough and Instagram @kateloughtravel

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