Blue Hayes

After a day browsing the galleries of this buzzy, arty town, you can escape the crowds to sit serenely sipping cocktails in the sub-tropical gardens at Malcolm Herring’s small hotel. With no drop-ins or children under ten, this is a peaceful and exclusive bolt-hole. Interiors are light and airy, in coastal colours. A gate leads to the South West Coast Path and down to Porthminster Beach. There is plenty of comfy seating, and the bar opens on to a terrace, where you might take a cream tea, enjoying views across the bay and to Godrevy Lighthouse. A single room has garden views, a bath with shower over. The spacious sea-facing master suite has a four-poster and balcony, a spacious bathroom with bath and walk-in shower. The garden suite has French doors to a patio. If you can’t tear yourself away, you can order ahead a supper of, say, Trelawny cheese 
and asparagus tart, Coronation chicken, oak-smoked salmon steak or seafood platter. Breakfast brings a wide choice, including Cornish gammon steak with eggs as you wish, smoked salmon, grilled mackerel and kippers, croissants and vegetarian options.