Chapel House Penzance
Forget St Ives, Penzance is the new darling of Cornwall. Slightly rough around the edges and full of charm, it has that old Cornish authenticity that can be lacking in the more tourist-pulling towns, and with all that natural beauty that makes up that part of England’s coast.
In the heart of Penzance with views across Mount’s Bay is Chapel House, a Georgian bed and breakfast where style, simplicity and relaxation are the bedrock of its ethos. The house dates back to 1790 and has been home to banking and mining dynasty the Carne family, WW2 evacuees and the Penzance Arts Club. In 2011 it was taken over by Susan Stuart and went through an extensive two-year renovation.
It now holds six bedrooms, all of which are a mix of historic antiques, original features and contemporary touches. Floors and walls and whitewashed throughout, offset by dark wooden chairs and bookcases, contemporary works from the Newlyn School of Art and accents of blue, green and grey; a subtle reference to the house’s location.
The public spaces are designed with relaxation in mind. Roaring fires and contemporary sofas provide the perfect space for winding down with a glass of wine after a day of walking along the coast, while warmer seasons are catered for with an outdoor sea-facing terrace and garden.
In the morning fresh breakfasts of locally-sourced traditional dishes are served, with roasts on Sundays and ‘Kitchen Supper’ on Friday and Saturday evenings – a short, changeable menu designed around seasonal produce.
To see more from Chapel House Penzance, visit the hotel’s
