Everyday, Luxury, Luxury Travel, Europe, UK

Laid-back luxury at The Scarlet Hotel, Cornwall

March 11, 2016

The next morning we woke up in our super comfy bed at The Scarlet Hotel. But I held back from shaking Mr S awake and rushing him to start the day. They take things very easy at The Scarlet Hotel and with breakfast available until 10.30am we could afford to take our time and remain in the zen-like state we’d adopted after our evening in the hot tub followed by an incredible dinner at Nathan Outlaw.
The hotel has one main restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with a gorgeous terrace boasting an incredible view.
And as the restaurant has completely floor to ceiling windows, you’ll feel outdoors even when you’re hiding away from the cold.
As with the rest of the hotel, the dining room has an organic feel to it with bare wood, scarlet curtains and chairs designed to look like tree branches. A casual space that reflects the laid-back luxury of The Scarlet.
We dived into a basket of crisp bloomer toast and slathered it with home-made butter as we perused the menu….There’s an a la carte menu for breakfast which I alway prefer to a buffet and at The Scarlet it’s small but perfectly formed.

We enjoyed our fresh coffee and Mr S tucked into a full English with Cornish sausage while I went for the healthy choice and opted for The Scarlet’s homemade museli.
After breakfast we headed back to the hotel’s spa to enjoy a relaxing morning being pampered. The spa at The Scarlet focuses on thoroughly nourishing the mind, body and soul and though they use Ayurvedic wisdom they add their own Cornish twist.

There’s a gorgeous indoor pool which is purified with bromine rather than chlorine which can be harmful for the environment.
And we loved the relaxation area with these cool pods swinging from the ceiling!

I’ll just hang around here for a bit…there’s the outdoor sauna, a steam room, a hammam and a rasoul and guests can enjoy scrubs, massages, wraps and facials.
The spa therapy rooms are made from natural swathes of cloth so that you feel cocooned in your own little world.

Mr S and I both chose a hot poultice massage where by hot steamed poultices are used to massage the body, open up the pores and relax the muscles whilst the herbs inside the poultice nourish the skin. There had been a slight mix up with our massages and the treatments ended up running late but without us even asking them to the hotel called the restaurant that we had booked for lunch to check if they would hold our table. It was a real testament to the thoughtful and personal service offered at the hotel.

After a day in nearby Padstow, Mr S and I returned to the hotel and couldn’t resist some more time at the spa, including a session in the sauna and steam room and another dip in the hot tub.
Our perfect day in Cornwall would be concluding with dinner at the hotel’s main restaurant. As with the rest of the hotel a dedication to supporting local produce, fisherman and farmers is reflected in the menu and Cornwall itself really is at the heart of the cuisine.

I really enjoyed my starter of Cornish fish and shellfish stew with saffron potatoes while Mr S fancied a change from all the fish we been eating and loved his rabbit ragu with saffron pappardelle, wild mushroom and bone marrow. There really is a home away from home feeling about The Scarlet and we loved chatting to the staff who all take an active role in keeping the hotel eco-friendly. They are all given an induction course in sustainability, encouraged to walk, cycle or take the eco-friendly bus into work and wear environmentally friendly uniforms.

Head Chef Tom Hunter changes the menu everyday to make sure he’s showcasing the very best produce that Cornwall has to offer and I just loved the flavours in my pan-fried stone bass with Cornish potatoes with red pepper dressing and crispy cavolo nero.

Mr S’s fillet of cod with cider, champ, roast apples and celery was beautifully cooked and as best of British as you can get.

We chose light and seasonal desserts and feeling happily full we headed back up to the bar for one last cocktail before making our way back to our room. The next morning was our final day and we relaxed and enjoyed the gorgeous lounges and the views one last time…

Before saying goodbye to a place that really did feel like a home away from home.