Knowing where your food comes from...

At The Sail Lofts we like to keep suppliers and produce local, and if you are staying with us we encourage you to do the same and enjoy the fantastic products produced in our county. We're here to help you do this as part of our concierge services.

We recommend online shopping deliveries from Cornish Food Market who are based in nearby Falmouth and will deliver to The Sail Lofts (which we can unpack for you!). They are proud of how they source their produce, importantly they know exactly where the meat, vegetables and fish they sell come from. Have a read of this newsletter...

We have the same philosophy with sourcing fish for our guests which is why we use Matthew Stevens Fish Merchant, based just up the road in St Ives. When staying at The Sail Lofts you can order fresh fish through our office which will be delivered to your fridge later that day. Knowing where your food comes from makes a big difference and it's fascinating following @Crystalseass118 on Twitter, one of the boats operating out of Newlyn who supplies Matthew Stevens. Hear about the storms they trawl through, the catches they are about to land and see how quickly it gets from the boat to your fridge. We'd also recommend following @MStevensFish.

When in St Ives, using the local butcher - Harvey Brothers is part of being in the town. The beef is home reared on their farm and fields in West Cornwall and is some of the finest around. When I first moved to town I remember asking them if the chicken was local, the answer "well not really, sorry", so I asked, "so where is it from?" to which he replied "Near Falmouth pard" - a mere 20 miles away!

We're lucky to have such wonderful produce on our doorstep and we hope you enjoy it as well, especially if we can make the process just as convenient as a visit or online shop from your usual supermarket.

Local treasures in St Ives…

With all the talk in the news lately about how our high streets are disappearing we wanted to highlight just how wonderful we think our little town centre is.

Not only do some of the more traditional, family-run shops such as butchers, greengrocers and bakers continue to thrive in the town, St Ives also offers an eclectic and exciting mix of independents that seem to be bucking the trend.

One of my absolute favourites is Pebbles, a jewellery shop on Fore Street, which sells a range of handmade jewellery from local and national makers. The jewellery is unique and every Christmas and birthday there is something from here on my wish list.

If you have little ones then Fabulous Kids is a little treasure trove filled with beautiful little outfits, quirky toys and games as well as a lovely baby boutique. If you need a gift for a newborn or a birthday present for a toddler you are certain to find something totally unique here, whatever your budget.

To add a touch of St Ives chic to your home take a trip to Gift St Ives. Here you’ll find a great range of lovely home wares including soft furnishings, candles, picture frames and individual decorations as well as a small range of stunning gift wrap that is simply gorgeous.

Of course no trip to St Ives would be complete without sampling some traditional Cornish goodies and if you’re looking for the best places to go, all of the office are in agreement that St Ives Bakery is the best for pasty’s, Ferrel & Sons cannot be beaten for their saffron buns and the scones from Pengenna Pasties are to die for!

Have fun exploring and choosing your favourite.

Kelly x