The Place
It was no surprise when a new Artist Residence popped up on Cornwall’s creative west coast, choosing ramshackle Penzance over picture-perfect St Ives. Loyalists to the brand won’t be disappointed by the hotel’s artful rusticity and olde worlde charm, complete with wood-burning stoves, stacks of logs, distressed leather armchairs, and candle lanterns peppering its cosy interior. They’ll also find something new in its laid back Cornish atmosphere – the staff are young, local and extremely friendly.
We admire the flexibility here, with a variety of double rooms to choose from as well as a cottage that was added in 2016, sleeping up to 6 people. The original ‘arty’ rooms were decorated by British painters and a vibrant art collection injects pops of colour into the spaces.
Our loft suite, The Look Out, had the feel of a Parisian garret: slanted walls with exposed beams, a freestanding copper bath, and its own balcony terrace, with views across Penzance. Bedrooms come with an irresistible minibar, stocked with pork scratchings, chocolate-covered honeycomb and Cornish ale, while the informal restaurant downstairs serves hearty smokehouse classics such as ribs and beer-can chicken (though the vegetarian dishes could do with a bit of a lift). In summer, they fire up a barbecue in the beer garden.