Back
in September we had the pleasure of playing host to Times journalist Tom
Chesshyre, here is what he had to say…
A
mid a tangle of lanes dotted with art galleries behind the sandy curve of
Porthmeor beach, a small sign marks the entrance to a nondescript mid 20th-century
building with a whitewashed wall. Step inside and an archway opens into a
pretty courtyard with olive trees, neat rows of box hedges and a fountain.
Around this courtyard, and in a few connecting buildings, are 12 “boutique
apartments”. They’re really quite lovely.
In
a nutshell
The
name Sail Lofts comes from this once being a store for fishermen’s nets and
sails, which subsequently morphed into a pilchard pressing yard, before having
a spell as Mr Peggoty’s nightclub (apparently a St Ives institution). It has
been an upmarket apartment-hotel with a breakfast-in-bed service since 2008.
What
are the rooms like?
The
rooms are first class: minimalist yet warm with objets d’art, church candles
and bright modern art. Walls are painted white and most floors are blond wood.
Pastel blue, shocking pink and lavender coloured sofas add the colour to the
pared-down furnishings. Framed wall paintings include local seaside scenes. The
apartments come with either one, two, three or four bedrooms – and each has a
modern kitchen.
So
what is the food like?
Continental
breakfast-in-bed is an extra £15 a day for two people and includes croissants
from a nearby baker. Or you can opt for a full Cornish breakfast with bacon,
eggs, sausages, mushrooms, fresh bread and black pudding for £29.95 for two (you
cook the ingredients). These are delivered in hampers by a concierge, who will
also take orders for food so it is ready when you arrive, and can arrange for
fresh catches of fish – including lobsters – to be brought on a daily basis.
What
else is there to do?
The
Tate St Ives is a couple of minutes away by foot (www.tate.org.uk/visit/st-ives) and it’s a little
further along to the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden
(barbarahepworth.org.uk/st-ives). Guests at Sail Lofts are given tickets for
free entry to both. Sail Lofts also has a spa in a side room offering Elemis
treatments; massages are £55 an hour. Or take a walk along the coast; there are
many great routes, some with restful train rides back.
The
Times, published: Saturday 8 November 2014
Katy x
Posts
