Sparkly St Ives...

When you think of St Ives you’d be forgiven for immediately thinking of fun family holidays spent on the beach but we think St Ives is just magical during the winter. A particularly special time to visit is in the lead up to Christmas when colourful lights illuminate the harbour and punchy mulled cider is a staple in most pubs. Come at the right time and you may even catch a glimpse of Santa Claus, who’s chosen mode of transportation in St Ives is (of course) the Lifeboat.

With a packed calendar of events throughout December there are so many reasons to enjoy a luxury break in St Ives, and that’s without mentioning the unique shopping opportunities. Here is a selection of the December events we’re getting excited about:

4^th December: Christmas lights switch on

Fisherman’s Hut, Harbour Front, 5pm

St Ives Mayor and champion fundraiser Madison Glinski will transform the town into a winter wonderland when they switch on the festive lights.

4^th December: Santa arrives in town

Harbour Front, 6pm

Ditching his usual sleigh, Santa arrives into the Harbour aboard the Lifeboat and is met by the Three Kings and their camels who will all parade to Santa’s magic grotto at The Glass Tree in Fore Street.

12^th December: Christmas Puppet Show

Boathouse Theatre, 4pm

This year Humpty Dumpty and Frosty the Snowman present their annual show. Great fun for all the family. Also showing on other dates throughout December.

20^th December: Food Trail

Various venues across St Ives, 12pm

Sample some fantastic local goodies with a food trail across St Ives. Finish up at The Castle where there’s a meal for two at Rum & Crab Shack and a magnum of Champagne up for grabs.

22^nd December: Kidz R Us Christmas Pantomime

Kidz R Us Theatre, 2.30pm & 7.30pm

Kidz R Us present it’s famous festive Panto which, this year, combines elements of two traditional stories: Robin Hood and Babes in the Wood. Also showing on other dates throughout December.

24^th December: Christmas Farmers Market

Guildhall, 9.30am

Pick up those essential Christmas treats and last minute gifts from local producers and enjoy some festive entertainment.

Up until 21^st December The Sail Lofts luxury self-catering in St Ives can offer short breaks in all of it’s properties so if you only have a few days to spare you can still enjoy all St Ives has to offer in the build up to Christmas.

With a handful of properties still available over Christmas now is the perfect time to book your festive getaway. Here at The Sail Lofts we think we’ve thought of everything to ensure your Christmas away from home is seamless. Real Christmas trees, crackers, an emergency wrapping kit and a secret present store are just a few of the things that come as standard. We can also order the meat for the big day and our friends at Cornish Food Market can deliver all the trimmings direct to your door.

Whether you’re looking for a pre-Christmas getaway or you’re planning to celebrate the big day with us, you can view our December availability here.

Kelly x   

Nautical November…

I hate to mention the c word however (with no wish to scare anyone)… Christmas is coming. The twinkle of fairy lights, and the sight of brightly shining baubles will soon be here, and whilst we all love Christmas it can be scary how fast it seems to come around.

St Ives is a haven for Christmas shopping, with its wide variety of boutique shops, bursting full of wonderful gifts and delights, perfect for even the hardest person to shop for. Interspersed with amazing coffee shops and cafes, ideal for refueling, during a long days shopping.

Below I have listed some of my favorite treats that I would recommend for Christmas presents, all with a St Ives nautical theme…

Starting at Jo Downs on the corner of Market Place, her beautiful glass selection of wish sticks, coasters, candle holders, display dishes, and wall mounted plaques could be the unique present that you are looking for with your loved one in mind, with simplistic yet effective designs that can work well with many peoples interiors.

Moving along in to Fore Street, the Painted Bird sell a wide selection of beautiful bronzes, wonderful ceramics and spectacular jewelry, we particularly like their Ahoy collection of glasses and ceramics, perfect for reminding your favorite person of their last visit to St Ives.

Delving deeper in to Fore Street on the left you will then encounter Poppy Treffry’s boutique, filled with hand stitched wonders, and printed masterpieces, their beside the sea theme has some of the most beautiful breezy boat textile designs, created skillfully into small coin purses up to medium sized tote handbags and everything in between. We are particularly partial to the long legged oystercatcher design.

The Sail Lofts five star accommodation in St Ives acts as a perfect base for all your shopping needs, allowing you to browse, and consider your purchases as you hunt out your Christmas gift list, whilst treating yourself along the way.

We have a range of luxury apartments available in St Ives during November, that can be booked as week long stays, or short breaks. To book, or to find out more about availability please view our website, alternatively please call our friendly reservations team in the office on 01736 799175, who will be happy to accommodate your needs, and assist in setting up your booking. We look forward to hearing from you…

Katy x

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Christmassy Cornwall...

We’re beginning to feel very festive here at The Sail Lofts, our Christmas tree has just arrived and Dave is hunting around the garage looking for the lights. In fact St Ives in general has a very festive feel to the air, the town’s lights have been switched on and many of the local pubs have added mulled wine and mulled cider to their menu’s – some recent guests inform us that the mulled cider is deliciously potent!

Cornwall is a great place to buy unique gifts and recently I went to Trereife House for its annual Christmas Fayre, there was so much on offer from local handmade jewelery to quirky clocks made from slate and yummy Cornish food to glasses made from recycled bottles. I certainly picked up some great stocking fillers that I hope will wow my family and friends.

In the lead up to the festive period there are a number of Christmas Fayres in Cornwall but there’s also lots to do with the family if you’re tired of all that Christmas shopping.

Last weekend my husband and I visited the Eden Project up in St Austell. Eden is currently celebrating its Time of Gifts season and features a host of festive themed treats in the lead-up to Christmas. The ice skating rink is back for another season and is looking stunning. This year they have ‘chilly penguins’ to help young children on the ice, these penguins act as a skating aid and really do help the little ones confidence on the ice.

There really is so much going on in Cornwall over the festive season and if you’re visiting us and you need any recommendations whatsoever on Christmas markets or attractions that are really getting into the festive spirit please don’t hesitate to ask.

Kelly.