The Idle Rocks

Went to Idle Rocks with my wife for a super lunch with a stunning view and excellent service. We had a meat and cheese platter as an intro, mackerel starter, monkfish satay main and a super chocolate pudding all washed down with a chilled rose! Will definitely come back and if the sunshine could be arranged again it will be very special.

It was a last minute decision to have a break. We really didn’t want a 4 hour car journey, but many other quality hotels which grabbed our attention lost our support because it appeared that receiving dogs was more important than guests. The Idle Rocks does not allow dogs in the main hotel….wonderful, for us! We booked the three days break and added on an extra night. Our room was perfect,number 12, with two windows overlooking the harbour and the cleanest, clearest water immediately below. A huge walk in shower with big, soft bath towels, changed daily, was appreciated. There is water provided twice a day, a fridge, coffee and tea facilities and turn down evening service. A small area with table and chairs offers a grand stand view of the harbour But I run ahead of myself…..our welcome by Lydia must surely have been a template which I would encourage businesses to pay attention to. Not only were we directed to the car park a few yards up the hill, Lydia went ahead to check there were free places, otherwise we would have parked in the local car park a few steps further along the road. She effortlessly helped unload our luggage and took it upstairs where, when we arrived in our room, it had been placed in the wardrobes.She then talked us through our lovely room. Beautiful chocolates, a welcome letter, a bottle of bubbly added to our feeling that we were welcome! Our break gave us an A La Carte meal in the hotel, a meal in the sister hotel five minutes walk around the harbour, and a sea food taster menu. We booked an extra night on half board basis. The food was faultless, except for the taster menu which we found disappointing. Taster was the operative word. The octopus was chewy and portion of the delicious cod was very, very small.This was at odds with the main course of the same fish on the A La Carte menu which was copious. Otherwise the food was always tasty, beautifully presented and of sensible proportions. Breakfast provided everything you could wish for, fresh juices and even champagne! Staff were young and enthusiastic. Top marks to smiling Camilla who combined professionalism with a friendly demeanour. One waiter ended every sentence with “ no problem “ which is probably a reflection of the youthfulness of staff but….. The position of the hotel is second to none, right on the water edge overlooking the small harbour where a boat leaves for Falmouth every hour. We chose to explore local creeks and footpaths, the highlight being a few miles coastal walk to St Just with the unique church, catching the bus back to St Mawes. Yes, drinks are on the expensive side, but to have spent a few days enjoying excellent food, the ambiance of this tastefully decorated small hotel and having the terrace on which to linger over a book or watch the comings and goings of the small port on the mouth of the creek, made such little observations unimportant. We had a wonderful , restful few days. Thank you all

We stayed at the Idle Rocks for 3 nights over New Year and we had a fantastic time! The hotel is beautiful, and the staff are superb. We were a family of 4, myself and my husband and my parents ( kids are grown up at Uni now so they stayed home to have their own NYE parties!). The weather was rather windy and rainy but it didn’t distract from the lovely time we had. Breakfasts were brilliant and delicious. The dinner on 30th December we really enjoyed too. The New Year’s Eve dinner was good, in particular the NYE reception with free flowing champagne and superb canapés and the best oysters my French husband had ever eaten! I swan in the sea each morning and we enjoyed some blustery walks along the coast… we visited the castle and the church at St Just. We didn’t catch the ferry across to Falmouth- but this was an option if you wanted to! The piper after NYE dinner piped us across the harbour to St Mawes Hotel for the ‘live bad party’ for those looking for some dancing and frolics! For those who preferred a more chilled NYE there was a beautiful singer in the Idle Rocks- so the events team had thought of everything to suit all ages and guests. The hotel itself has some beautiful pieces of art ( local artists like Alice Mumford RWE, David Pearce etc) and the interiors are very well thought out and just delightful. I travel a lot with work and stay in many many hotels and the little things I notice such as the bedding, the attention to detail, the service and the hospitality here are outstanding. Huge thanks to Kearan, Alice, Lydia and the team for running such a tight ship- and for creating a warm and welcoming new year- creating memories with my parents that we will cherish forever.