News and views Autumn 2019

Embark on an autumn adventure

Autumn has to be one of the best times to visit Cornwall. The roads are quieter, the pace of life slows down and the temperatures are perfect for walking and exploring Cornwall’s 300-plus miles of coastline!

If you like a luxurious base to return to after a hard day’s hike, the four-star Budock Vean Hotel and cottages are just minutes from the South West Coast Path, where it winds alongside the Helford river in south Cornwall.

Stride out towards the harbour town of Falmouth in one direction (and catch a handy bus back), or cross the river by foot ferry (April until the end of October) and head to the picturesque Shipwrights Arms in the other. Further afield, explore the south side of the river, or explore the Lizard peninsula.

Offering a range of accommodation, including dog-friendly, Budock Vean’s autumn bed and breakfast rates start from just £73 per person, per night.

For more information call 01326 250288 or visit www.budockvean.co.uk

Selling your home before Christmas?

It may only be October, but if you’re looking to move before Christmas, now’s the time to act! My Place in Cornwall urge you to ignore the myth of waiting for the spring and, instead, embrace marketing now to secure a buyer for your home. Those who are looking to buy at this time of year are actually more likely to be serious and you never know – they may make your Christmas wishes come true!

My Place in Cornwall’s Christmas marketing guide is full of hints to prepare your home for viewings over the festive season, including photography tips and stellar advice like using clever lighting during the darker months, and turning the heating on. After all, there’s nothing worse than viewing a cold house!

For more information call 01208 813874 or visit www.myplaceincornwall.co.uk/thinking-of-marketing-before-christmas

Secluded stays at Tremaine Green

Situated between Looe and Polperro on Cornwall’s stunning south coast, Tremaine Green Country Cottages provide you with the chance to experience a tranquil country escape just minutes from the coast.

Comprising of 12 period cottages in a private hamlet, the award-winning grounds promote a peaceful atmosphere, and there’s a cottage to suit families of all sizes. The team can even accommodate larger family gatherings, spreading groups across two or more properties. Guests here are ideally located too, to explore everything that Cornwall has to offer, with the Eden Project, the Lost Gardens of Heligan and fishing villages like Looe and Polperro all within easy reach.

If you’re hoping to stay in Cornwall over Christmas and New Year, now’s the time to book so that you can make the most of the beautiful grounds and cosy cottages, before they reach full capacity!

For more information call 01503 220333 or visit www.tremaine-green.co.uk

Centenary celebrations at Haywood Farm

100 years ago, Tom Bray’s great grandparents bought the land near St Mabyn from Lord Falmouth, due to his struggles caused by the war. Originally a working farm, Haywood has produced cider on its granite press for well over a century, supplying local families and labourers with what is, arguably, the West Country’s favourite drink. But it was only in 2003 that it began to grow into the cider farm we know today.

That year, after making cider with a group of friends, Tom’s passion for the craft had been well and truly sparked and since, he and the team have propagated and planted 19 acres of orchards, carefully selecting varieties for their quality and suitability to the Cornish climate.

To mark the anniversary and celebrate the farm’s cider-making heritage, Tom and co. have produced a Centenary Cider, made using honey from their own bees and, of course, apples from the orchards. But that’s not all. They are also producing an album to celebrate all of the live music they host during the warmer months, donating half of the proceeds to Prostate Cancer UK. Both are available from the farm shop, so whether cider’s your tipple of choice or you’d like to hear the highlights from Haywood Farm’s superb line-up of local artists, be sure to pay a visit this autumn!

For more information call 01208 840140 or visit www.haywoodfarmcider.co.uk

Porthleven gallery starts planning or 2020

After a busy main season, The Customs House Gallery in Porthleven is eager to begin preparations for next year, which will include a whole new series of exciting exhibitions and ‘meet the artist’ sessions.

In the meantime, owners John and Louise Winterton will be keeping the gallery open seven days a week, right the way through to Christmas, before dropping to six days a week from January until Easter. This means that even in the depths of winter, you can still pop in and enjoy the Customs House’s vibrant and eclectic display of original work.

What’s more, the gallery is due to receive some new collections of work, including a range from artist, David Gray. To keep up to date with everything going on at this exciting gallery, including announcements of next year’s exhibition line-up, be sure to sign up to the newsletter.

For more information call 01326 569365 or visit www.cornwall-art.co.uk

Celebrating 50 years

It is very unusual for a company in the double glazing industry to be owned by the same people for years, however Collington & Co Ltd are celebrating 50 years of trading with only two sets of family owners in that time! Collingtons is a long-standing family run business still serving customers with exemplary after care service. Indeed, they pride themselves on their first-rate customer service, which has become something of a company hallmark, with the whole team completing every job as if they were working on their own homes.

Collingtons work as a team, with everyone fully employed. This means that customers receive a first-rate experience, from the first phone call through to the lifetime of their doors, windows or conservatories. It’s no wonder that just two years ago, this sterling Cornish company was awarded a ‘Buy with Confidence’ rating by Cornwall Council, making it the highest of trusted traders.

The latest family member to join the business is Hollis, whom many people will know from numerous years’ experience in the hospitality trade. He tells us: “I’ve been amazed by how many people come back to Collingtons again and again. We had a lady in last week who said she’d had her door from Collingtons 35 years ago. While it has been great over the years, it was starting to look a little worn, so she wanted a new one. It’s these moments that make me proud to be part of the Collington family.”

50 years in business also means that the company’s ten year, no-quibble guarantee has real value, so if you’ve been meaning to update your doors or windows, or are hoping to add some living space with a conservatory, why not put your faith in Collington & Co?

For more information call 01326 572599 or visit www.collingtons.com

Holiday home tips

In an ongoing series of holiday home tips, George at Cornish Traditional Cottages highlights four ways to welcome guests to your property.

As the owner of a Cornish holiday let, one of your main objectives is to ensure your guests have such a great stay that they want to return and recommend it to their friends. Achieve this and your bookings will soar, along with your income! The key, George tells us, lies in the welcome.

If you’re greeting your guests in person, be sure to keep it short and sweet. “Your guests may be tired after a long journey and wish to unwind straightaway. So, make sure you keep the welcome warm but brief. Finish with confirming they have your contact details so they can contact you if necessary.”

Next is to ensure your house is feeling homely. “If your guests are due to arrive late, make sure some lights are on, and if it’s chilly, put the heating on.”

George goes on to explain that leaving your guests a little something to welcome them never hurts. “A bottle of wine along with a local speciality cheese, cake or biscuits is a nice touch.” For larger groups, a homemade cake will go down a treat!

Finally, George explains: “Remember everyone. If the party includes children, leave out some games or colouring books, or if the dog is coming along, round off the perfect welcome with a toy or some treats!”

For more information call 01208 893980 or visit www.corncott.com

New menus announced at a south coast gem

The award-winning kitchen team at south Cornwall luxury retreat, Talland Bay Hotel, are set to reveal a refreshed take on their superlative dining experience.

This season will see new menus introduced in the 2AA Rosette Terrace Restaurant as well as an exciting range of themed afternoon teas. Look out for ‘Alice in Talland Land’ – a fun twist on their classic teatime offering, featuring Mad Hatter’s hat, playing cards and toadstool edible fancies.

There will be more surprises in store  as the hotel transforms into a winter wonderland from late November. Guests return year in, year out to see the latest Christmas decorations, and enjoy festive teas and feasts in front of the fire.

For more information call 01503 272667 or visit www.tallandbayhotel.co.uk

The Elizabeth: built to last a lifetime

Make a statement in the bedroom with this beautiful hand-cast bed from The Cornish Bed Company. The Elizabeth combines elegance with sturdy bedposts, ornate hand castings and nickel plated bed knobs, and is guaranteed to make an impression.

This Victorian style bed is made by Cornish artisans and its unique knuckle joint fixing means it’s engineered to last a lifetime. Every bed is authenticated with a serial number and certificate, creating a unique product for each customer.

Available in brass, nickel, or customised to a colour or finish of your choice, the Elizabeth bed is priced from £2,830.
Visit the foundry and showroom in Par, Cornwall or the London Showroom at Paddenswick Road to discuss the full range of Cornish Beds available.

For more information call 01726 812052 or visit www.cornishbeds.co.uk

Boutique luxury on an intimate scale

Overlooking the water thanks to its spectacular location on the Fowey estuary, the Old Quay House hotel – a distinctive, whitewashed Victorian building – offers boutique luxury on an intimate scale, with just 13 luxurious bedrooms. Set over three floors, each room enjoys its own en-suite bathroom, plus its own individual style, although a cool and calm, coastal theme permeates throughout.

Several rooms even boast their own balconies, most looking out over the estuary and Polruan on the opposite side of the river, and it’s not hard to dream of kicking back and just soaking up the view, a glass of bubbles to hand. What better way to end an evening spent in the relaxed waterfront restaurant, sampling the area’s finest seasonal produce?

For more information call 01726 833302 or visit www.theoldquayhouse.com

Autumn – the best time of year to enjoy a hot tub

As the evenings start to draw in and the weather gets cooler, climbing into a steaming hot tub is all the more enjoyable and satisfying. A hot tub is a great way to get outside and stay in touch with nature, getting a breath of fresh air when you may otherwise be lounging indoors. Not to mention the evenings and darker nights of autumn make for some spectacular scenery when it comes to sunsets and moonlit starry skies.

By continuing to enjoy your spa in autumn you’ll benefit from a range of health advantages including: soothing arthritis, alleviating stress, improving circulation and encouraging recovery thanks to the spa’s heated water and massage jets. There are also a range of other features that make your hot tub even more enjoyable such as different finishes and adjustable massage jets.

For more information call 01208 813760 or visit www.spyrys.co.uk

Protect your investment in hard landscaping

Patio Clean provides Cornwall with an exclusive cleaning service. With the help of European partners, Patio Clean has introduced the TerrazzaMC Brush to Cornwall. Designed in Belgium to clean absolutely any surface, this unique patented system will restore stone, decking, block paving, or absolutely any other surface, with just a small amount of water, no high pressure and no chemicals. Indeed, this environmentally friendly company leads the way in patio and driveway cleaning, offering a bespoke service that enables you to protect the home you love. 

For more information call 07817 575450 or visit www.patioclean.co.uk

Cars and capers for Cornish charity

Summer has been full of successful fundraising events for Cornish charity Cornwall Hospice Care. There was the hugely popular Mount Edgcumbe American & Classic Car Show and Summer Fair in August and a fantastic ‘It’s A Knockout’ competition in September.

Jointly organised by Cornwall Hospice Care and the Friends of Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, the classic car event on the banks of the Tamar this year attracted over 800 vehicles.

In September, 13 teams met at Truro Cricket Club for ‘It’s A Knockout’, competing on various inflatable obstacles. Eventual winners were Aspire Gymnasium from Truro who won by just one point ahead of Lifestar Medical (also from Truro), who took second place. Special mention should go to the Charlie’s Angels team from the Co-op in Cornwall who raised more than £3,200 in memory of a colleague.

For more information call 01726 839156 or visit www.cornwallhospicecare.co.uk

Revitalise the hub of your home

Thanks to Dream Doors in Truro, giving your kitchen a makeover and achieving a look that matches the rest of your home, could be a whole lot easier – and cheaper – than you think. Indeed, you would be surprised to see just how much difference simply replacing your doors can make to the hub of your home. Dream Doors owner, Matt Jones tells us: “The thing that sets us apart is that our UK manufactured doors are made to measure, so you can get new doors to fit your existing units and inject a new lease of life into your current kitchen.” To find out more, simply pay a visit to the showroom in Truro where you’ll find a huge range of styles to choose from.

For more information call 01872 240650 or visit www.dreamdoors.co.uk

Wake up to plastic pollution

Sweet Dreamzzz in Penryn have provided beds and mattresses to discerning customers across Cornwall for more than a decade, so they’re well versed when it comes to advising what to look for and the store provides an excellent choice without being overwhelming.

Just launched at the National Bed Show is the Seagreen range of mattress – made from plastics brought back to shore by fishermen whilst fishing. Seaqual recycles these plastics from our oceans and produces fabulous textiles used to create these comfortable mattresses.  So sleep well…while saving our oceans.
Living in Cornwall, owners Denise and Mike have seen first-hand the effect of single-use plastics on our oceans, so they understand the need for a more sustainable… everything! This is why they’ve proudly become the first in Cornwall to supply the Seagreen Mattress.

For more information visitwww.sweetdreamzzz.co.uk or www.seaqual.org

Let there be light!

Penzance is a must-visit at any time of year, but in the winter it really does come into its own, particularly in the run up to Christmas. On 30th November, the town’s Christmas lights will be switched on, then on 14th December, visitors can marvel at the Humphry Davy Lantern Parade, which celebrates the birthday of Sir Humphry Davy – world-famous scientist and inventor who is best known for the miner’s safety ‘Davy’ lamp.

During both events you’ll also be able to do a spot of Christmas shopping in Penzance’s famed Christmas markets, and throughout November, in the build up to the Lantern Parade, Penzance Exchange will be hosting lantern-making workshops for those who’re keen to get creative.

There’s lots happening in Penzance over the festive period, including traditional Cornish festivals and entertainment in spades, so be sure to pay a visit this winter!

For more information visit www.lovepenzance.co.uk

Journey back in time this festive season

Looking ahead to Christmas, popular festive dining and Santa by Steam trains at Bodmin & Wenford Railway are already filling up, so be sure to book soon to avoid disappointment!

Make Christmas memories in your very own steam railway Christmas story with a visit to meet Santa. When he’s not driving the sleigh with Rudolph and the rest of the reindeer crew, Father Christmas travels by steam train at the Bodmin & Wenford Railway! This year, the railway have also added Mulled Wine & Mince Pie trains to their festive offering, which will run every Friday evening in December in the run up to Christmas. Tickets for all festive events can be booked in advance – simply call the team or visit the website.

For more information call 01208 73555 or visit www.bodminrailway.co.uk

Give a little piece of Cornwall this Christmas

With a strong Cornish imprint in its soul, Whistlefish is an art, cards and gift retailer first conceived in 1996 by artist, Lyn Thompson. Since, it has grown to number 12 stylish galleries across Cornwall and Devon, and with a state of the art website running alongside, there’s nowhere in the world where you can’t enjoy some classic Cornish art through Whistlefish!

This year, the team are thrilled to announce that they have expanded their product range to include sumptuous hampers with a classic Cornish theme, using a mixture of quality cards and gifts, alongside specially selected items from a host of south west producers.

The luxury hamper collection features exclusive Whistlefish designed boxes, ensuring the recipient is dazzled with style and elegance from the moment their gift arrives. Exquisitely illustrated, the boxes are keepsakes in their own right, and will no doubt take pride of place in the home for years to come.

Whistlefish have carefully designed and chosen four pre-set luxury hampers, giving you a fabulous range of options with minimal fuss and effort. Available as a gorgeous gardening hamper, a classy gin-lover’s hamper, a rustic cider hamper and one that features the very best Cornwall has to offer; with exclusive Whistlefish products dovetailing with quality south western items in each hamper, what better way to give a piece of Cornish style this Christmas?

Alternatively, for a more bespoke hamper, or for the foodies in your life, you can create your own bespoke filled presentation box, filling it with exactly
the right Whistlefish pieces and ingredients from its wide selection of Cornish goodness. It can even be personalised! Simply head to the website and follow the simple ‘Create Your Own Hamper’ process, to produce your own box of stylish Cornish heaven.

For more information visit www.whistlefish.com

Lifting the lid off kitchen design

The team at Now Kitchens in Helston is extremely proud of the quality of their kitchens. And they don’t just create beautiful designs and ergonomic layouts; they also spend time discussing practical storage options and the cabinet structure and weight-bearing capacity of the drawers. The Now Kitchens team provide a tailored design service using 3D software with over 16,000 cabinet configurations providing hugely flexible storage.

Made to last a lifetime, each bespoke cabinet is solidly built and is combined with the very best Blum hardware to allow for serious storage solutions, including drawers with a weight capacity of 60kg each – that’s over 160 cans of baked beans! Visit the Now Kitchens and Bathrooms Helston showroom to see, touch and feel the quality for yourself.

For more information call 01326 565522 or visit www.now-kitchens.co.uk

Not just made in Britain, but made in Cornwall!

Rebecca and Allison founded cream Cornwall in 2012; they had a vision for their brand, but a small budget to play with, so they initially made a lot of products themselves. Luckily, they both have a practical background in textiles,
so they set to work screen-printing, making lampshades, pouring candles and creating diffusers. Since then they have branched out with other producers and are passionate about getting their products made in Cornwall, and if they can’t get it made here, then they always look for a manufacturer in the UK. The first store was opened in Falmouth in 2016 and a second in St Ives in 2018, where you can see the beauty and quality of the fantastic items available and take a little piece of Cornwall home with you.

All the lovely products are also displayed on the website.

For more information call 01326 317253 or visit www.creamcornwall.co.uk

Glanvilles of Wadebridge celebrates 100th birthday

Glanvilles of Wadebridge wants to thank all its customers for sharing its birthday celebrations. The day went off with a bang – sparkling wine, cake and balloons, topped off with a special prize raffle.

Rosie Hamm proprieter tells us: “We are now looking to merge the past with the future – getting back into the old ways of making homemade slow gin or jam using this year’s bumper crop of apples and hedgerow fruits. We have some great offers in our preserving department.” If you’ve never made these before, you’ll be surprised at how simple and rewarding it can be. It makes for great Christmas presents too, so why not give it a go?

As the evenings start to draw in and the weather becomes more autumnal, there’s nothing better than settling down for a cosy evening in. Why not set the right mood with the right lighting? One tip for giving your home a warm glow and making sure your lighting is bang up to date is with some great ‘naked’ bulbs, which you can see in the impressive Glanvilles lighting showroom.

Another option is to set up your very own Véritable garden. These award winning little gardens come complete with horticultural LED lamps to keep your culinary garden growing all year round, making them the perfect addition to any gourmet kitchen. Not to mention, every garden bought or ordered in November will receive a free lingot!

For more information call 01208 812860 or visit www.glanvillesofwadebridge.com

Make yourself comfortable this winter

Collins and Hayes make the finest sofas and chairs in state-of-the-art workshops right here in Britain. Every handcrafted piece is distinguished by effortlessly elegant, smart yet casual styling, with irresistibly soft, deep cushioning, hand-stitched details and solid oak feet. You can really create your own look too, thanks to a wide range of finishes and fabrics.

Collins and Hayes’ expert team take time to create upholstery that offers incomparable comfort and effortless style. From the goose feather cushions, to the skilfully handcrafted hardwood frames that are guaranteed to last a lifetime, each handmade sofa and chair brings to your home understated style, fine craftsmanship and enduring comfort for many years to come. Interested? If so, Alfred Smith & Son in Penzance are currently offering a size upgrade on Heath and Lavina models, meaning you can get a bigger sofa for a smaller price! Available until 24th November.

For more information call 01736 363134 or visit www.alfred-smith.co.uk

Get back to nature at West Kellow Yurts

West Kellow Yurts is situated in Polperro on the edge of a solar, wheat and barley farm, offering an eco-friendly yurt campsite with a wealth of great coastal walks, coves, beaches and attractions nearby. The location is probably the best feature as it’s peaceful, yet close to the village.

Set in a nine-acre field with a sea view next to a quiet country lane, there are very few passers by and noise, in fact, it’s mainly just the local birds you’ll hear. You can rent one of the three yurts (as well as the wagon/bell tent in peak season) for two or more nights, or book the whole site with your friends and family.

The site has solar panel energy sourced from the neighbouring field and there is fresh spring water available as well as both indoor and barbeque cooking facilities. When you’re not relaxing on the tranquil site, make the most of the local area with the picturesque fishing village of Polperro nearby as well as Looe and Fowey.

For more information call 07888 841550 or visit www.westkellowyurts.com

Cleaning away the autumn blues

As well as refreshing your wardrobe for the new season, get off to a fresh start each morning by restoring that crisp clean feeling to your bed sheets.

At Spotless Cleaning Ltd, Ilona and the team know that getting a good night’s sleep is the key to a productive day. After a summer full of heat waves, it’s easy to lose the freshness, regardless of how many times you change the sheets, but worry not, because Spotless Cleaning have a quick fix! The team’s specialised duvet and pillow washing services utilise professional equipment, leaving your duvets and pillows feeling like new. So, if your bedding could do with freshening up now that the temperatures have started to cool, be sure to pop into Spotless Cleaning’s unit in Truro!

For more information call 01872 279724 or visit www.spotlesscleaningcornwall.co.uk

Thinking of holiday letting?

Self-catering holidays in the UK have never been so popular and there are numerous options as a property owner, with more and more agencies on the scene along with a myriad of do-it yourself solutions. Amidst this tough competition, local West Country letting agent, Toad Hall Cottages has worked hard to make sure it always offers that little bit extra.

Toad Hall Cottages is well established in the industry with 25 years’ experience and a portfolio of over 900 cottages in beautiful locations throughout the south west. Unlike other larger agencies, Toad Hall is locally based and its property managers know the area inside out, putting them in the best position to advise owners on everything from buying a suitable property to furnishing and decorating, along with all the usual legal requirements.

Once on board, your property is in safe hands. Toad Hall invests heavily in its website and marketing to maximise bookings, and is constantly looking for new and innovative ways to improve its service. The property managers build up a strong relationship with owners, are happy to answer any queries however small, and with a 24-hour emergency service are always on hand if anything goes wrong.

Toad Hall Cottages have three offices in Cornwall located in Wadebridge, Polperro and Helford Passage where property owners are always welcome for an informal chat. Alternatively if you’d like to arrange a meeting, or have any queries, get in touch with the friendly team.

For more information call 01208 607700 or visit www.toadhallcottages.co.uk

An innovative business

Owned by Lisa and Jason Thomas, Innova provides beautiful outdoor buildings designed to withstand the hard extremes of Cornish weather. Lisa explains: “We make beautiful pods, shepherd huts and garden rooms made with care and attention to detail with the best quality materials and highly skilled staff.”

The high-quality fixtures and fittings with these outdoor buildings include underfloor heating, kitchenette’s, Bluetooth speaker systems and decked porch areas. It’s possible to tailor each pod to your exact requirements and thanks to the company’s aspiration to manufacture the highest-quality buildings on the market, at the best prices, you know you’ll be gaining the most from your investment – whether it’s a commercial purchase or a home garden project.

For more information call 01209 890069 or visit www.inovaa.co.uk