Artist Residence Penzance

Smack bang in the middle of Penzance, it would have been all to easy to buy up this Georgian mansion and run a traditional hotel with bragging rights about its top location. Not so for the Artist Residence Penzance, where time and effort has gone into a unique boutique design that stands out from the crowds. The elegant town house exterior conceals twenty rooms, stylishly decorated, featuring original murals by British artists, whilst others are decorated with limited edition prints, plus there's a 3-bedroom cottage, complete with log burner and copper roll-top bath.

It's a vibrant mix of new and old, from a sea-themed double to chic twin rooms, and a comfy de-luxe suite along with wacky street art murals. There's also a three-bedroom cottage which is the perfect seaside retreat for a family. The key word throughout is comfort. The rooms have en-suite bathrooms with eco-friendly toiletries, flatscreen TVs and free Wi-Fi, while the cottage has an open-plan living room and kitchenette with log burner, and a luxurious bathroom with copper roll-top bath and walk-in rainfall shower.  Eight rooms welcome dogs, as do all the public spaces. It isn’t infrequent to see some of the staff’s dogs chilling out by the fire too. The Cottage is their dog-friendly offering for larger families – self-contained with 3 bedrooms, kitchenette, copper roll-top bath, and a log burner that is just shouting out for a dog-tired hound to curl up in front of, after a long day exploring town. Old railway sleepers and leather armchairs maintain the charm of Cornwall in a different era, whilst following the hotel’s unique style in the details.

Breakfast is served in the ground-floor restaurant, The Cornish Barn, using fresh local produce, and the restaurant is also open for lunch and dinner, providing a selection of small plates and meat and fish dishes from the smoker. There is a large beer garden complete with table football, ping pong, fully stocked bar and BBQ for summer days, and an indoor bar-lounge with log burner and a focus on local ales and cocktails crafted using Cornish spirits. It all adds up to a stunning hotel with unique design, delicious food and a thoroughly laid back atmosphere – topped off by that central location that, yes, they should still brag about!

It is a refreshingly vibrant place for a break away for a couple or small family, especially as it’s only a five-minute walk to the Isles of Scilly ferry. And the good news is they have other equally enticing locations in Brighton, London and Oxfordshire.