Bedruthan Steps Hotel, Cornwall

It was unfortunate that we visited the Bedruthan Steps after a night at the Scarlet, because any hotel would seem drab in comparison. Sister hotels, and separated by only a five minute walk, these two Cornish establishments are very different. Bedruthan caters for the whole family, with large homely rooms, regular children’s activities, and a relaxed inclusive feel. Naturally this meant the hotel was full of young families; the more sophisticated Scarlet caters for couples and smart getaways.

Everyone was very friendly, welcoming us to the Bedruthan, we were shown down to a Villa suite: a lovely large room with a huge double bed, and a separate additional area with a bunk bed suitable for littler guests! The room was very comfortable with tea and coffee facilities and a TV; a petite bathroom had an adequate bath and shower. Yet again phone signal and internet connection were nowhere to be found - luckily I didn’t need it, but I can imagine for some it would be an inconvenience.

After exploring and having a lovely treatment in the impressive spa, we went to the dinner lounge. Our meal was a little disappointing... inspired by the fresh innovative cooking at Scarlet, I was surprised to find Bedruthan's food of a lower standard. Bread and wine were brought to us and we were given the set evening menu to select from. My Alsace caramelized onion tart, Miss Muffet cheese, walnut crust & hazelnut dressing arrived lukewarm and though the taste was pleasant it was rather like bought quiche from M&S. The Vitello tonnato, tuna mayonnaise, capers & rocket also came a little misrepresented and wasn’t a hit with my friend.

Mains were better: Marinated roast lamb rump, chargrilled Mediterranean vegetables, lemon ricotta & mint oil for me, and Aubergine & marinated mozzarella balls with smokey aubergine mash for my guest. The lamb was a little oily and wasn’t a great cut of meat, the accompanying vegetables and chips were good though and soaked up the sauce from the meat deliciously. The aubergine was the best course, the cheese was encased delicately in lovely rosemary flavoured grilled aubergine and the mash was an interesting addition.

For afters we opted for the sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream, and the pecan pie with cinnamon mascarpone & maple syrup. These were warm and sugary and a comforting end to the meal. The waiter kindly let us take the rest of our bottle of wine to our room where we enjoyed it while watching X-Factor!

I slept miraculously well at the Bedruthan, our bed was soft and as soon as my head hit the pillow I was deep in sleep. Our breakfast was wonderful, an array of options set out for guests to help themselves, everything you could wish for including the delicious Cornish apple juice! We ordered two massive cappuccinos that were particularly good and croissants and fruit to munch on.

For the reasonable price you certainly get a good deal at the Bedruthan Steps. In certain areas they excelled: lovely comfortable rooms and exceptional service, and a very high standard spa. For a family this is the perfect place to stay for a lovely Cornish holiday, but unfortunately, for me, the newer more glamorous Scarlet Hotel outshone the Bedruthan.

Visit the Bedruthan Steps website and book here.

Scarlet Hotel, Cornwall

A weekend out of London was just what I needed and the Scarlet Hotel provided a luxurious refuge for the night. Located in Mawgan Porth in Cornwall, a blissfully remote and quiet area on the coast. The Scarlet prides itself on offering a simple but beautiful grown-up hotel with the highest eco standards. When we arrived on Friday evening the welcome put us instantly at ease, a porter took our bags to our room and we were offered a drink. After a swift tour of the hotel, it became apparent that the Scarlet caters for one's every need, alongside the inviting spa there are numerous relaxation rooms, and places to curl up with a book or have a comforting drink.

Our room opened out onto the cliff edge with sun loungers overlooking the beach. A lovely Queen-sized bed placed centrally was surrounded by all the essentials, a sizeable desk, snazzy white TV (that took a while to work out) and two comfortable velvety chairs. The open plan bathroom was found round the corner, with a large bath and gorgeous toiletries.

After a quick freshen up, a bounce of the bed and an outfit change, it was time for dinner and I was intrigued about what the Scarlet restaurant had in store for us. The restaurant is quite “zen”: very spacious and facing the sea with an airy feel. The waitress explained that dishes change daily and there is a strong focus on local and seasonal produce. I was amazed that an entirely new menu is created every single day, an impressive feat for the head chef.

We were treated to a lovely bottle of house white. Our starters then appeared very promptly considering how busy they were on a Friday night: Butternut, artichoke & apple cannelloni for me and Cornish duck, artichoke and duck egg for my guest. The menu explained the dishes in the simplest form while they arrived exquisitely ornate and complex. The duck consisted of a single ravioli filled with duck meat placed precariously in an artichoke soup with a poached duck egg, a strange but yummy combination. My cannelloni had been carefully assembled and looked like a work of art on the plate.

My main course: Venison, wild mushrooms, garlic cream potato was one of the best dishes I have ever eaten. The meat was simply to die for, even though I asked for it slightly more well done than is standard, it was juicy, tender, flavoursome and utterly delicious. I asked myself, ‘why do I not eat venison more?’ My friend tried the monkfish with pickled turnip and confit potato that looked divine and she seemed equally delighted with the taste.

We were thrilled with our puddings, which we chose very carefully from the appealing list. The Chocolate cappuccino with pistachio biscotti was too tempting to resist but was a little too rich for me. My favourite was the local berry meringue with butterscotch... melt in the mouth crumbling meringue mixed with sweet butterscotch sauce and fresh berries.

Our adorable waitress offered to bring us tea to our room, and after choosing a DVD from the vast collection at reception we wandered down to find a silver platter with fresh mint tea and a plate of assorted fudges, the perfect end to the evening.

I woke feeling refreshed and calm, the silence of the countryside almost eerie to me as a busy Londoner. Fresh coffee was brought in to us at 9am and we sat for a blissful few hours watching a film and sipping our drinks in bed.

Breakfast the next morning was just as good as supper and I was amazed to find I could fit it in! A selection of fruit and pastries, wonderfully nutty homemade granola and a traditional English breakfast plate with Kernow sausage, dry cured bacon, hog's pudding, grilled tomatoes and mushrooms. Already placed on every table is a bottle of apple juice from the Cornish Orchards, a lovely alternative to orange juice.

I could bore you for ages about the fun things we tried at the Scarlet... highlights of the trip included walking the hotel dog Jasper down on the beach, splashing about in the seaweed hot tub outside with cocktails, and experiencing the facials and massages at the hotel spa.

I was so sad to leave, I felt totally relaxed at the Scarlet (helped by the lack of phone and internet signal) and the special attention to detail really makes a stay there unforgettable. I will definitely be visiting this heavenly hotel again.

The Scarlet Hotel is located at tredragon road, mawgan porth, cornwall, tr8 4dq. Visit the website and book here.