Artist Residence Cornwall

Penzance, Cornwall, United Kingdom
Book from GBP Book from £130 per night

Fun and funky hotel with good-value rooms and a 3-bedroom cottage, plus a sociable eatery

Fun and funky hotel with good-value rooms and a 3-bedroom cottage, plus a sociable eatery

The London and Brighton branches may be cooking up a storm, but head towards Land's End and you'll find this funky Grade II-listed townhouse has plenty to shout about, too. Here in Penzance, appealing guest rooms are spread across the hotel and neighbouring buildings – each filled with flair. Sizes run from Snug through Luxe to an adjacent 3-bedroom Cottage; the whole a quirky warren of chic. Choose your favourite and stay in your own private masterpiece with all the comforts of top-notch bedding, Roberts radios and eco-chic toiletries.

The fun doesn’t stop there. The ground floor boasts The Clubhouse, an informal rustic-meets-industrial restaurant serving up tasty Cornish fare. Grab a booth, order a beer, and relax over an evening feast. There's also a relaxed lounge-bar with cocktails, candles and a crackling wood-burner. Head out the back for the enclosed Festival Garden with trestle tables, a buzzy bar, table tennis and ping pong. Or walk out of the chunky front door and you’re moments from Penzance’s cafés, pubs and galleries.

Highs

  • Well-designed, imaginative rooms and suites; we particularly liked the Comfy Luxe, Super Comfy Luxe and Lookout options with their roll-top tubs
  • A buzzing restaurant, delicious breakfasts packed with local produce, a fire-warmed lounge-bar, and a courtyard garden space for summer drinks
  • The affable young team can keep you up to speed on anything from the Cornish art scene to the nearest sandy beach
  • A great base for exploring this gorgeous corner of Cornwall, and minutes from the Scilly Isles ferry
  • Fantastic value for money

Lows

  • Soundproofing could be better between rooms, and those at the front might experience some street noise
  • No car park, though you can park for free on the streets nearby
  • We haven't seen all the latest additions and refurbs in person but they look fabulous

Best time to go

The hotel is open all year round, and historic Penzance is fascinating in any season. Beaches and the surf beckon in summer; blustery coastal walks and gallery-hopping without the crowds are the main attractions in winter. An annual highlight is the town’s Golowan Festival at the end of June, with performances, exhibitions and parades.

Our top tips

A lovely - and unusual - way to explore this area is to combine your stay with a foraging course. The Fat Hen Cookery School, run by ecologist Caroline Davey, offers wild food weekends near St Buryan.

If you’re into the gastronomic good life, stock up on meat to take home with you at the Higher Trenowin farm shop, north of Penzance on the road to St Ives.

Great for...

Beach
Cheap & Chic
Eco
Family
Foodie
  • Boutique Hotel
  • 19 rooms & suites + 1 cottage
  • Restaurant and bar
  • All ages welcome
  • Open all year
  • Pool
  • Spa Treatments
  • Beach Nearby
  • Pet Friendly
  • Disabled Access
  • Car recommended
  • Parking
  • Restaurants Nearby
  • WiFi
  • Air Conditioning
  • Guest Lounge
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • Gym
  • Table football
Room:

Rooms

Select which playful and unique room suits your taste – perhaps a Snug room in strong colours, or a Comfy Double with a bit more space and tranquil hues. They're compact with showers only.

If you want more luxury then opt for one of the Comfy Luxe and Super Comfy Luxe rooms, in adjacent buildings, which have decadent tubs, bathrobes, Nespresso machines and walk-in rainfall showers. You’ll find eclectic touches such as lights made from old fishing baskets and crates for bedside tables. There’s also a Mini Lookout in the attic, ideal for a small family. On the first floor you'll find The Chapel Suite which has a super-kingsize bed, statement brass tub in the lovely lounge, rainfall shower bathroom and views over Chapel Street. Top of the house – and top of the range – is The Lookout, which consists of a bedroom, a separate living room with a log-burner and kitchenette, a freestanding copper tub, and a terrace looking out over the rooftops to sea.

For those seeking independence, there's a 3-bedroom cottage next door to the hotel. It's ideal for longer stays and families, with a spacious fire-warmed living and kitchen area, 2 double bedrooms, a snug bunk-bed room, and a bathroom with a copper tub and separate shower.

Features include:

  • Hairdryer
  • WiFi

Eating

The Clubhouse is the heart of the hotel, serving up shareable dishes using local produce. The menu has a particular focus on cured meats and fish, much of them smoked on site - we tucked into delicious pulled pork with oak-smoked cheddar and pickled apple, grilled prawns with lemon and garlic, and enormous smoked steaks that were cooked to perfection. Vegetarian options are also available, and there are occasional Mediterranean influences - perhaps octopus with chorizo, or honey-roasted beets with feta.

Breakfast is just as tasty, with a few unusual options alongside the normal Full Cornish and smoked salmon. We started with cute jars of yoghurt and compote, before moving onto scrambled eggs with spinach, Cornish blue cheese and sourdough toast.

The shabby chic lounge-bar is open throughout the day for coffee and cocktails, and in good weather guests head to the Festival Garden to the rear which has a sociable bar and trestle tables.

Penzance has plenty of local cafés for light lunches - just ask for recommendations. If you don’t mind a short drive to Mousehole, chic little harbourside bistro 2 Fore Street does fantastic seafood.

The Attic Loft and The Lookout both have basic kitchenettes with a combination microwave/oven; cottage guests get a kitchen area with all you need for simple meals.

Features include:

  • Bar
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurants nearby
Eating:
Activity:

Activities

  • Explore Penzance’s faded architectural splendour and immerse yourself in its prospering art scene
  • Take a dip in the Jubilee Pool (open June-September), the town's stunning Art Deco outdoor lido - or watch the action from its café
  • Venture across the granite causeway at low tide to the fairytale island castle of St Michael’s Mount
  • Pop southwest along Mount’s Bay to the picturesque harbour of Mousehole
  • Laze on the lovely beach at Porthcurno (a 20-minute drive), then catch a performance at the open-air Minack Theatre, hewn from the cliffs above the sand
  • Treat yourself to a bracing hike (and mind-clearing views) along the South West Coastal Path, or cycle to Marazion along the Cornish Way Cycle Path (the team can advise on bike hire)
  • Explore the wider area - you’re within easy reach of Land’s End, St Ives and Sennen Cove

Activities on site or nearby include:

  • Art classes
  • Cycling
  • Hiking
  • Historical sites
  • Museums / galleries
  • Plantlife / flora
  • Shopping / markets
  • Surfing
  • Swimming
  • Table tennis
  • Theatre
  • Wine tasting

Kids

Children are welcome and will enjoy the eye-catching and playful décor, the Festival Garden to the rear, and the many attractions of Penzance and environs. That said, there’s not much space to run around, and no dedicated facilities.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

The 3-bedroom cottage next door to the hotel is well set-up for families, with a spacious living area and kitchen, a master double, another double/twin and a bunk room.

The Mini Lookout is a good option for a family of three with an extra single bed, though the stairs are steep with open treads. The Lookout has a sofabed. Be aware that many bathrooms have showers only. The Cottage, The Lookout, Mini Lookout, Chapel Suite, Super Comfy Luxe and Comfy Double can take a baby cot.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available, Family Rooms

Kids Activities on site:

  • Table tennis and ping pong in the Festival Garden
  • Board games in the lounge-bar

Kids Activities nearby:

  • St Michael's Mount
  • Land's End
  • Mousehole
  • Beaches including Sennen Cove
  • The cinema in Newlyn for rainy days
  • Jubilee Pool (June-September)
  • Tin mines
  • St Ives
  • Birding at Hayle

Families Should Know:

Not ideal for toddlers as there are several steps and different levels, and not much space for them to run about

Distances:

  • Airport: 1hr10m (Newquay)
  • Hospital: 10 minutes
  • Shops: 1 minute
Kid Friendly:

Location

Artist Residence Cornwall is in the centre of Penzance, southwest England. It's a short walk from the ferry to the Scilly Isles.

By Car:
Penzance is just off the A30, the main road through Cornwall. It's 5 hours from London and 3.5 hours from Bristol. There's no car park on site, but you can park on the seafront nearby for free, or there's a paid car park a 3-minute walk from the hotel.

By Air:
The nearest airport is Newquay (64km), but you'll find more flights to Exeter (188km). Transfers aren't available and taxis are expensive, so we'd recommend hiring a car.

By Train:
There are regular trains to Penzance from London, Bristol and elsewhere in the UK. The station is a 5-minute stroll or a short taxi ride from Artist Residence Cornwall.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to the UK and getting around

Airports:

  • Newquay 64.0 km NQY
  • Exeter 188.0 km EXT

Other:

  • Beach 1.0 km
  • Shops 0.1 km
  • Restaurant 0.1 km

Our guests' ratings...

Based on 3 independent reviews from i-escape guests

9/10
Room
10/10
Food
9/10
Service
9/10
Value
9/10
Overall

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Rates for Artist Residence Cornwall

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