Driftwood Hotel Cornwall

Boutique coastal holidays and short breaks with exceptional award-winning dining in the heart of the Roseland Peninsula, Cornwall.

Driftwood is a true coastal retreat, a beautiful seaside boutique hotel in Cornwall. Perched on the South West Coastal Path close to St Mawes and Portscatho overlooking the turquoise waters of Gerrans Bay, it is the perfect spot to unwind and soak up some vitamin sea.

Independently owned and simply styled, our hotel offers a space to comfortably enjoy life’s little pleasures in the most breathtaking of locations.

Nestled in seven fabulous acres with its own beach beckoning at the end of a pretty woodland path, you’ll experience pure escapism and relaxation on tap from the moment you arrive.

So, if like us, you enjoy the simple pleasures in life (great food, fresh sea air, a coastal stroll, a good book…) then check-in to Driftwood hotel in South Cornwall.

Relaxation and informality are our by-words, and the soft hues and textures of our decor combine, to create a home-from-home beach retreat ambience, in our luxury hotel in Cornwall.

We have rooms with infinite sea views, rooms to accommodate families, and rooms for romantic getaways. Our ground floor bedrooms have decked terraces ideal for sunseekers or budding stargazers.

Many guests don’t feel the need to venture far from our sea view hotel. The beauty of our location is irresistible, and our lounges offer the perfect space to relax; losing yourself in a captivating read, savouring an afternoon tea, or catching up on the day’s events.

We have a library for solitude and a games room to keep the little ones entertained. Also, our bar is bursting with the latest tipples and a wine list as-long-as your arm.

Enjoy pre-dinner drinks on our decking before perusing our delicious menu. Venture outside into seven acres of lush landscape and enjoy the privacy of our very own beach which comes to life at sunrise.

Boutique Bedrooms
All the rooms in our boutique hotel are individually decorated in peaceful coastal hues and all, bar one, (it makes up for it in other ways), have infinite stunning sky and sea views. Prop open the window to breathe in the fresh salty Cornish sea air, absorb the spectacular seascape and sleep to the sounds of the ocean.

For the duration of your stay, your bedroom is your sanctuary. As our hotel is on the coast, each room is sympathetically and individually decorated in subtle shades, with a nod to our seaside setting.

We’ve trialled duvets, plumped pillows and tested beds to make sure you get the best night’s sleep and we’ve popped some nice Ren toiletries in your bathroom too. All part of our commitment to your complete relaxation during your stay.

There’s nothing better than waking feeling fully recharged, to the smell of fresh salty sea air and breakfast on the go – ready to embrace the day ahead. Our sea view hotel in Cornwall has a total of 14 rooms and a rustic cabin; all inspired by the ocean with an understated coastal chic.

All but one have impressive views of the ocean and some offer a deck on which to sun seek or stargaze. We have rooms best suited to couples and others for families; some have baths or showers, some have both.

Some are slightly more spacious, but all offer a perfect coastal retreat in one of the most relaxed seaside hotels in Cornwall. Call us, we’d be more than happy to talk you through before you book.

Superior Sea View Double
Occupying prime positions in the main courtyard, these rooms offer unbroken views across our gardens and out to sea. They’re individually styled, so each is unique, not to mention they have the best bathrooms in the house.

Some of these rooms have Juliette balconies with French windows, others have a private decked terrace, all have great views of Gerrans Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

Standard Sea View Double
Relaxed coastal living at its finest, all have great views, some panoramic, of the Atlantic Coast and Gerrans Bay. All have either an en-suite bathroom or shower room.

Countryside Double
This room is light, stylish and individually designed. Our countryside double is at the rear of the main hotel, overlooking the adjoining fields. This room has an en-suite bathroom with a handheld shower.

Dining
We are immensely proud of the outstanding food produced by our Head Chef, Aaron McNamara, and his team, making ours a contender for the best restaurant in Cornwall. Top quality dining would not be possible without his team’s commitment and passion for locally sourced, seasonal ingredients and produce.

To place ours amongst the best restaurants in Cornwall we grace your plate with only the freshest seafood from Cornish waters and the most flavoursome meat reared from roaming cattle.

Dining at the Driftwood is a relaxed affair. On warm evenings, begin with an aperitif or end with a post-dinner tipple on our decked terrace overlooking the crystal blue waters of Gerrans Bay.

Our menus change to reflect the seasons so there’s always a reason to return and an excuse to try another bottle from our wine cellar.

We’re open every day for light lunches and every evening for dinner, and for those hotel guests that don’t want the full dining experience we offer a simple supper in the drawing room or on the deck.

We can also cater for private lunches and celebrations, or business, or treat someone special to a naughty but oh-so-good cream tea.

Award-winning Restaurant
We are delighted to share our restaurant has been awarded three prestigious AA Rosettes. Congratulations to our kitchen team for their hard work, and for putting us on the map for fine dining in Cornwall.

The Finest Ingredients
Our aim is simply to awaken your senses to some top-notch food and drink. Food accolades…tick. Highly-acclaimed food… tick. Stacked cellar… tick. Stunning setting… tick.

All the ingredients for a memorable dining experience in the best restaurant in Cornwall. You just need to choose who to share it with. View our sample menu for a soupçon of what’s on offer.

Children’s Dining
Children’s dining is equally important, so we have early suppers for little people prepared from only the best fresh seasonal produce and created to order. This only applies to our little residents.

Dining out
If you’re heading out to explore, we can even pack a picnic hamper crammed with delicious treats for you to take on your adventures – just ask!

Honest, tasty food from the heart
Aaron McNamara joined the Driftwood team as Head Chef in May 2022 and – building upon the high standards set by predecessors, Chris Eden and Olly Pierrepont over 15 years – continues to inspire guests and diners with his creative flair and a passion for the best ingredients.

He creates honest, tasty food from the heart. Aaron was inspired to cook from a young age having watched the women in his family lovingly prepare homecooked meals at home where he grew up in Lancashire. In particular, his mother, who was employed as a cook at their local pub.

Aaron gained is work ethic from his Grandfather, while working at the family business. When he left school, he pursued his dream of becoming a chef, working in local restaurants in his hometown of Burnley, before moving to the Lake District where he trained in country house hotels including one Michelin starred, The Samling Hotel, under Ian Swainson.

He returned to his home county of Lancashire to work under Executive Chef, Lisa Goodwin-Allen, at the esteemed Northcote Manor House Hotel, and most recently has worked at prestigious establishments including The Pass at South Lodge Hotel, where he was Sous Chef to both Tom Kemble and – once again – Ian Swainson.

Aaron will be bringing his own unique twist to the Driftwood menus, so it’s an exciting time to join us for a coastal dining experience. Expect lots of locally sourced seafood, exceptionally fresh ingredients, and perfectly balanced flavours.

Our menus are updated regularly to reflect the fresh ingredients we have sourced, so the sample menus on our website are merely a guide. Plus, isn’t it nice to be surprised?

Sample Food Menu
Despite our accolades, our food is served with no hint of pretension. We aim to serve wholesome dishes, created by combining the finest ingredients with the creative taste buds of our talented kitchen team led by Head Chef, Aaron McNamara.

Couples, families and friends are all welcome to come and enjoy our seasonally inspired menu against an ocean view you will never tire of.

Afternoon Tea
There’s something quintessentially simple, yet delightful, about indulging in a freshly prepared afternoon tea on the Cornish coast. At Driftwood, our afternoon teas reflect the high-quality attention to detail and care of our sea-view hotel.

Where better to enjoy a delicious afternoon tea than with unspoilt views of the most scenic stretch of coastline in the UK?

Served daily between 3pm – 5:30pm either in our dining room, cosy lounge with warming fireplace (perfect for those chillier afternoons), or on our sun-soaked decked terrace, looking out onto stunning coastal views. The choice is all yours. All afternoon tea bookings require 48 hours notice.

Tea by the sea
Our expert pastry chef, Megan Heard, prepares every afternoon tea with fresh, local ingredients that ebb and flow with the seasons. This means our afternoon tea menu varies throughout the year with one continued constant – its top-tier quality and taste.

Our afternoon teas are comprised of elegant finger sandwiches with seasonal fillings, fresh scones (fruit and plain) with clotted cream and jam, a selection of handcrafted sweet cakes, and your choice of loose leaf tea from Ronnefeldt.

The talent behind the tea
Our talented pastry chef, Megan Heard, crafts her lifelong passion for patisserie into everything she creates. Her earliest memory of walking to the village bakery with her mum to buy a selection of sweet and savoury treats has transpired into the successful career she has today.

From working at One Michelin Starred Ockenden Manor in Sussex at the age of 16, and subsequently training at the prestigious Sketch in Mayfair, Megan’s career has taken her from strength to strength as Head Pastry Chef for industry leaders including Matt Gillan, and working for Will Holland at the four Rosetted Atlantic Hotel.

Megan now brings her talent, expertise and patisserie passion to Driftwood. Her individual take on pastry classics and vision for creating delicious sweet, savoury and confectionery goods has put her mark on Driftwood’s menus, including our full afternoon tea, and fully complements our award-winning restaurant.

The Best Destination in the Duchy
How many hotels in Cornwall (let alone the UK), can say they have their own beach and cove on the doorstep and seven acres of land to explore?

Our luxury boutique hotel is located on the Roseland Peninsula, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, mecca for nature lovers, a must for culture lovers and a walker’s paradise. There’s plenty to choose from in our neck of the woods. For those seeking thrills – try your hand at kayaking, coasteering or surfing.

For those wanting adventures, hike the South West Coast Path or simply free yourself in the Cornish countryside and for those who want to make lasting memories, immerse yourself in Cornish culture, entertainment and events. Watching the Red Arrows from the headland at St Mawes takes a lot of beating!

Relax with us
And if you’re looking to take relaxation to the next level, book a pampering session. We can organise beauty treatments for you, simply ask our friendly team.

The Driftwood hotel is privately owned by Paul and Fiona Robinson. The Robinsons purchased the hotel in 2002, then known as the Roseland House Hotel, and developed it into the award-winning boutique hotel and fine dining restaurant it is today, considered amongst the very best hotels in Cornwall.

Read our Blog for the best insider knowledge and introduction to Cornwall then use our Out and About page as a checklist for allocating your time whilst staying with us.

Cornwall and the Roseland Peninsula
The south Cornwall coast basks in a Mediterranean clime as the Gulf Stream blows in warm comforting winds that ensure balmy summers and mild winters making it an appealing destination all year round and ideal for getting out and about.

Sunrise on the south coast is particularly spectacular and our clifftop position offers the perfect spot to watch the day dawn.

Top things to do in Cornwall
If you’re one of the Urban Arts Collective or an esteemed Culture Vulture, seizing life’s opportunities, open to learning and craving new experiences then the following must feature on your itinerary…

Minack Theatre
It’s not just the incredible productions that are acted out here but the totally breath-taking clifftop seat you take to watch performances against a panoramic backdrop that will blow your mind.

The theatre is an attraction open outside of performances so even if you can’t secure a ticket make sure you don’t go home without a visit. It’s worth the hour and a half journey and you’ll get a glimpse of St Michael’s Mount on route too.

St Michael’s Mount
St Michael’s Mount is another legendary attraction on the South Cornwall coast. Majestically rising from the Atlantic and approached via a tidal causeway this castle and home to the St Aubyn family will surprise and entertain all ages, all day.

Steeped in history and legend, the tours will provide full details and you will experience island life from past to present. Refreshment can be obtained from the Sail Loft and Island Café or dodge the queues and enjoy one of our picnic hampers whilst lazing in the sub-tropical gardens which thrive courtesy of the warm Gulf Stream.

Head for Marazion, it should take just over an hour and if you go via Helston, at the northern end of the Lizard Peninsula you’ll see signposts for the picturesque fishing villages of Porthleven, Praa Sands and Perranuthnoe and their beaches.

Winter Walks on the South West Coast Path
Driftwood is perched above the South West Coast Path, the UK’s longest National Trail. It crosses Porthbean cove beneath us and spans 630 miles of coastline, including glorious walks along the Roseland Peninsula in both directions. Whether bracing or gentle, a coastal walk blows away the cobwebs.

Even in the depths of winter, venture from the fireside to spot sunbeams or rainclouds far out to sea. Go closer to hear the almighty crash of waves and feel spray on your cheeks, or stand back and survey the glistening blue expanse. Whatever the season, the elements fulfil and inspire…

Gardens in Cornwall
Cornwall is not only home to dramatic coastline and countryside, but also a number of beautiful and historic National Trust gardens. With so many choose from on our doorstep you will be spoilt for choice.

Website: www.driftwoodhotel.co.uk

Rooms: 14

Price: from 320 EUR per night