Next up on our Cornwall adventure was the absolutely beautiful Chapel House in Penzance.
Situated on the corner of Chapel Street, with views out to sea, the house itself has just been stunningly curated by the lovely owner who once upon a time worked as an accountant for a charity, before turning her attention to this. We think she’s really found her calling. Think one great big, grand white space with white wooden floorboards, punctuated with the most perfect selection of art dotted throughout. Breaking up the bright white is calming shades of turquoise, sea greens and stormy blues. From the trim of the antique chair, to the weave of the rug, even the milk jug, all share various shades of soothing sea colours, without ever looking clichéd or forced. It was an absolute joy to just sit in each room.
We stayed in bedroom two which had a rather impressive standalone bath. The giant cocoon shape reminded us of something we’d seen at the nearby Sculpture Garden and was easily big enough for two and then some. We whiled away a few hours with the roaring fire on in the background. If you prefer a little privacy, fear not, a modern glass divide separates a powerful waterfall shower. We really appreciated all the little special touches, from the fresh flowers to the box of treats from Pure Nuff Stuff which contained hand cream, body moisturiser and foot cream.
Spruced up and ready for dinner we were going out-out to The Shore. You MUST book ahead to get a coveted table here as the head chef Bruce Rennie (who’s previously worked in Michelin star kitchens) only buys and cooks enough food for the guests he’s expecting. It’s quite the setup actually, with Ben both preping, cooking, and sometimes serving the food himself as well as somehow finding time to talk to every table. That dedication really comes through during our tasting menu. A love letter to the sea, every savoury dish contained fish, from the shimmering skin of expertly sliced mackerel in wasabi sorbet, to the plaice in a frothy yellow urchin bisque. Very reasonably priced, the six courses come in at £56 a head, with the option of adding a £33 drinks flight on top.
Throwing open our wooden shutters in the morning, we turned our Steepletone vintage radio and enjoyed a cup of freshly ground coffee, overlooking the view of the harbour below before heading downstairs to the communal farmhouse-style breakfast room. The menu is vast, but the owner Susan will basically just whip you up whatever you want. However we can’t recommend the green omelette enough. As light as a soufflé, mixed with parsley and spinach and stuffed with cheese – it was an unexpectedly delicious start to the day!
There are just six double rooms so there’s a really intimate vibe about Chapel House (although we were treated to a sneak peak of some beautiful new rooms going up as we speak!).
Serene, relaxing and so welcoming, this is the kind of place you can only dream of owning yourself one day – until then, we’ll be stopping here.
