Driftwood Hotel

‘A very nice hotel with its own private beach, secluded and quiet,’ writes a reader of this cliff-top retreat in gardens overlooking Gerrans Bay. ‘As close to flawless as you can get,’ writes another. Superb location overlooking beautiful gardens and Gerrans Bay.’ Throughout, the look is coastal chic, with occasional driftwood lamps and artwork. Bedrooms vary in size, most with a sea view, though one overlooks the countryside. Superior sea-view rooms have French windows to a private patio or a Juliet balcony. Head chef Olly Pierrepont cooks an imaginative nightly three-course menu, with a separate no-choice menu 
for vegetarians. Typical dishes include roast Cornish skate wing, Fowey mussels, cauliflower, golden raisins, pomegranate, almond, curry oil. ‘The food was excellent,’ one reader continues, although he felt that, as he had given the hotel advance notice, more account might have been taken of his wife’s allergies. Still, ‘to keep it in perspective, it’s a beautiful hotel, well situated, well appointed’, while at breakfast, ‘a wide choice includes very good pancakes and kedgeree’. (Peter Anderson, J and KP)