The Cornwall Hotel Spa & Estate

The spa was lovely, and the massage was good. The staff there were friendly, polite, welcoming and very good, and the treatments were top class. We were booked as a couple, but weren’t together for the treatments. That was fine, though they could have told us beforehand. Breakfast was good, but I had to find someone to take my menu order, and my husband had mostly finished by the time mine arrived. He could have waited, but the service felt lacking again. At check-in and checkout, both people seemed disinterested, cold and unfriendly. The room was lovely and clean, well sized and adequate, though I’m not keen on two twin beds pushed together. Restaurant service was slow, and staff seemed hurried to serve us and get us out. Nobody offered another drink while we ate, and when I asked for the drinks menu, they never came back to take my order. This was my second stay, after first coming two years ago. I returned because I enjoyed it, but this time felt completely different.

The food was fantastic, and yes, we’d go back. The spa was really good, with excellent staff. We booked a two-night spa break just after Easter and the room was clean and very well kept. Everyone was friendly and welcoming, though service details let the hotel down. At breakfast, the young man at the welcome desk ignored us for several minutes while looking at the diary. Maybe I’m old-fashioned, but paying customers shouldn’t be left waiting. We also had to wait to be seated for dinner. At 10pm, just after ordering our first drink from the bar, we were asked if we wanted another. I asked why and what time they closed. The bar shut at 11pm, with last orders at 1030pm. It was empty apart from us, and staff were cleaning up to go home, which didn’t make for a welcoming atmosphere. They were still very friendly, though. Those little service issues drag the experience down.

We had a lovely stay and would come again. The location was great and convenient for getting around Cornwall. Staff were helpful and let us check in early. We didn’t pay extra for breakfast or dinner, but the coffees were very nice. The gym had everything you’d want for a decent workout and wasn’t too busy, even though memberships are also available to people outside the hotel. Spa facilities were decent, but the pool could have been cleaner. It was the Easter school holidays and seemed busy.

The afternoon spa treatment was very good, and the relaxation room was nice, though staff walking in and out interrupted the calm. The spa staff were very good too. In the walled garden, none of the furniture had outside cushions, so the beds and sofas were really uncomfortable. The tea room staff were great. We had to send our noseco back because it was flat, but they replaced it and apologised. We were surprised there wasn’t a savoury vegan option for the cream tea. For £180 for four hours for both of us, the attention to detail should have been much better.