Abbey Hotel

The colour of the sky today in beautiful Cornwall.

Sat, 18 May 2013 06:26:43 -0400

The colour of the sky today in beautiful Cornwall.

Fish, glorious fish!

Sat, 18 May 2013 04:03:53 -0400

The coastal waters around Cornwall provide an abundance of fresh fish and variety of seafood to tempt the palate and expertise of our chef. Here we offer a glimpse into the traditions of fishing ports, such as Newlyn abd Mevagissey with its unique aquarium, and the culinary delights of freshly baked mackerel.

Craig Small, head chef of our Slipway Restaurant is a huge fan of anything local and loves being so close to the sea and always takes inspiration from what’s just been freshly landed at Newlyn. Dishes such as Poached cod with textures of peas, cannon potatoes, batter bits & tartar sauce and Sous vide monkfish with crispy cheeks and cauliflower textures are just a couple of his recent favourites.

Brian's Lemon Drizzle cake

Wed, 15 May 2013 04:13:05 -0400

Our lovely Breakfast Chef Brian has been making wonderful cakes for years and they are proving a very popular accompaniment to a pot of tea in front of the roaring fire in our Drawing Room. As well as his infamous Apple & Cinnamon and Carrot cakes, Brian is also known for Cornish Cream Tea’s as well as his tempting Lemon Drizzle Cake.

I’ve tried them all but can’t quite decide on my favourite, perhaps I need to try another piece of Lemon Drizzle Cake to be sure!

Country & Townhouse Magazine

Fri, 10 May 2013 05:36:15 -0400

We were delighted to be featured in the latest edition of Country & Townhouse magazine. It’s a fantastic publication and we’re thrilled to be included. I’ve posted a few shots of the magazine and some information about it below.

Country & Town House is the only monthly luxury magazine to target the increasing number of affluent “double lifers” who enjoy the very best of country and city living. Country & Town House celebrates British living and luxury, covering the finest houses, interiors and antiques, arts and events, food and travel, fashion and style as well as relevant features and interviews.

Fun, fresh and informative, the magazine will bring you the very best of both worlds every month. Contributors include Adam Edwards, Alice B-B, Jo Craven, Daisy Finer, James Delingpole, Jessica Fellowes, Juliet Kinsman, Marcus Scriven, Rachel Johnson, Stephen Bayley and Thomasina Miers.

The Minack Theatre

Wed, 08 May 2013 06:34:10 -0400

As the Minack’s season begins to pick up the pace, here is a video showcasing one of the most spectacular venues in the world.

Scilly Island Special Offer

Sat, 04 May 2013 18:32:04 -0400

In order to celebrate our fantastic new promotion where is you book for 3 nights or more, you receive a complementary day trip to The Isles of Scilly, I thought I’d post up this video just in case people had forgotten jut how magical the Islands are.

For more information on The Scilly Isles visit http://www.simplyscilly.co.uk/

Padstow May Day

Wed, 01 May 2013 06:30:52 -0400

What’s it all about?

May Day (or ‘Obby ‘Oss Day as it is known) is the biggest day in Padstow’s calendar. It is not unusual to see 30,000 people crammed into this little town on the day when Padstonians from all over the world return to their roots. The origins of the Obby Oss are numerous. Some say the celebration has its roots in pagan times, others that it’s a rain maker, a fertility symbol, a deterrent to a possible landing by the French some centuries ago or perhaps a welcome to the summer.

What happens?

Locals spend the night decorating the town’s streets with flags, flowers and greenery complete with a maypole and the following morning two “osses”, one red and one blue emerge from their stables. The “osses”, swirling and dancing proceed through Padstow’s streets taunted by a Teazer, who leads the dance with theatrical movements. The accompanying retinue are dressed all in white with their costumes decorated with ribbons and sprays of cowslips and bluebells. As the procession moves around the town, dancers perform a traditional gyrating dance to the sound of musicians and drummers. Last, but not least, are the followers, young and old who join the procession every year singing of the traditional May Song.

How can you take part?

It gets very busy and car parks and streets in the old town are closed to traffic. Advice is to get there early. There is a field at the top of the town near the Tesco supermarket where a park and ride service is available. You can also park in the village of Rock across the estuary and take the regular ferry across to Padstow.

Did you know?

The ‘Obby ‘Oss is the inspiration for the song “Padstow” by folk group Steeleye Span. Cowslips, bluebells, sycamore twigs and forget-me-nots are used to decorate the streets

Info: May Day takes place annually on 1st May (2nd May if the 1st falls on a Sunday).

Supplier Feature: Oliver's Olives

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:14:00 -0400

Olivers supply a variety of exquisite marinated olives and other Mediterranean food products. Delicious large juicy olives freshly marinated using their own recipes, supplying a variety of olives from stuffed garlic or chilli to a mix of green and kalamata with citrus marinade. They also do dolmades, red pepper bells stuffed with feta cheese or pickled garlic.

We’ve been proud to use Oliver’s superb olives for a while now, but if you’d like to try some for yourself connect with them on Facebook.

Summer in February

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 04:14:33 -0400

We were fortunate to be mentioned in a recent article in The Times about a new film that was shot in West Cornwall called Summer in February. It is an English drama romance, adapted from Jonathan Smith’s novel of the same name.

The article is below and I have also included the trailer.

Dominic Cooper (The Devil’s Double) stars as AJ (Later Sir Alfred) Munnings, with Emily Browning (Sucker Punch) as Florence Carter-Wood and Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey) as Gilbert Evans, in SUMMER IN FEBRUARY, based on Jonathan Smith’s novel about love and loss among a bohemian colony of artists which flourished in the wild coastal region of Cornwall before the First World War.

Spring Gardens

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 05:06:13 -0400

A snapshop of the diversity of Cornwall’s magnificent gardens in Spring, from the world famous to the hidden gems, whether you’re a serious horticulturalist, specialist gardener or enthusiastic amateur Cornwall’s lush vegetation and colour give garden lovers a feast for the eyes.

Upcoming events at the Minack

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:22:17 -0400

For those who aren’t aware of it, the Minack Theatre is one of Cornwall’s finest attractions - an open-air theatre cut into the cliff itself, whose season runs from May to September presenting drama, musicals and opera in this most dramatic of settings. Their Sub-Tropical gardens have also become an established favourite, especially for those with a taste for the exotic. The succulent plants thrive on the open cliffside providing an added dash of colour to the Minack all year round.

Coming up in May not only will there be plays and musicals, but performances by famous singers and songwriters such as Nerina Pallot, Midge Ure and KT Tunstall. For further details and information on booking tickets click here or call 01736 810 181

We’re delighted to announce that we will be opening the...

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 15:25:15 -0400

We’re delighted to announce that we will be opening the Slipway Restaurant & Bar for Easter.

More news to follow soon…

The Good Hotel Guide 2013

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 15:09:49 -0400

I always enjoy getting the new copies of the Good Hotel Guide, especially as we’ve been featured in it for over 2 decades.

It’s always a privilege to be featured in such a distinguished publication, especially one that remains independent and doesn’t charge to be included. Adam has always done a sterling job keeping the guide going under the simple premise that if you are good enough, you’re included, if you’re not, you won’t be.

Photo

Sat, 22 Sep 2012 12:12:02 -0400

We were delighted to be recommended by Alex Polizzi in...

Sat, 22 Sep 2012 12:10:25 -0400

We were delighted to be recommended by Alex Polizzi in today’s Telegraph feature where she selects Britain’s Top 100 hotels under £150.

Here are a few preview photos recently taken by the extremely...

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 05:06:17 -0400

Here are a few preview photos recently taken by the extremely talented Ollie Harrop which we’re hoping to use in our new website and brochure.

The Abbey from the Scilly’s Helicopter! Can you spot us?

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 14:28:48 -0400

The Abbey from the Scilly’s Helicopter!

Can you spot us?

Jubilee Weekend snaps from around the hotel and if you’re...

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:32:00 -0400

Jubilee Weekend snaps from around the hotel and if you’re staying with us or are down this sway I’d recommend the Diamond Jubilee Party at Trereife Park.

We’ve got a new juicer! Although not that remarkable it...

Sun, 20 May 2012 14:59:00 -0400

We’ve got a new juicer! Although not that remarkable it really is a beauty and there’s nothing like freshly squeezed orange juice for breakfast!

Brian’s been busy again in the kitchen and has baked what...

Wed, 02 May 2012 19:20:59 -0400

Brian’s been busy again in the kitchen and has baked what he hopes will be the first of many homemade cakes throughout the summer.

First up a delicious his Carrot Cake!