Arrive at The Nare mid-afternoon and you’ll be just in time for Cornish afternoon tea, served in the drawing room. A huge pile of scones is served every day, each one oozing with cream and dripping with locally-made strawberry jam, and all served with freshly brewed tea. It’s a pretty fattening tradition, but luckily this ‘country house hotel by the sea’ is situated above Carne Beach — a lovely, wide expanse of sand on a pretty bay that’s perfect for a long calorie-busting walk, especially if you have children in tow.
The Nare has old-fashioned charm — if you’re a lover of boutique hotel style or minimalist design, this is not the place for you. This is as traditional as it gets: antiques abound, armchairs nestle snuggly around fireplaces, bookcases jostle with artworks along the walls, fresh flowers scent the air and guests still dress for dinner.
Situated on the Roseland Peninsula on the south coast of Cornwall, the Nare itself dates back to the 1920s and there remains a whiff of that era about the place. At times it feels a bit like stepping into an Agatha Christie novel: waiters in the more casual (ahem) Quarterdeck restaurant still don bow ties and black evening suits, and glide about with a reverential, discreet air amid the quiet clinking of cutlery on china; drinks are taken on the terrace before meal times; the bar staff remember guests’ names and drinks (no matter how long it’s been since you last visited), and there’s a traditional turn-down service. Luckily there’s not yet been a murder in the billiards room. But you wouldn’t raise an eyebrow if there had.
Bought by hotelier Bettye Gray 20 years ago (at the ripe age of 73), the hotel was renovated in a country-house style and is now run by her grandson Toby Ashworth (although she still makes appearances in the bar to greet loyal guests). Mr Ashworth believes that it is the Nare’s resolutely old-fashioned and quintessentially English charm that appeals to his loyal clientele, and it would seem that the powers-that-be in the hotel world agree: it has just been awarded four red stars by the AA, the only hotel in Cornwall to achieve this status.
The Nare may be old-fashioned but it’s not stuffy. All 36 rooms are charmingly — and cosily — decorated with an individual theme. They also have either sea view balconies or patios, all with stunning views over Gerrans Bay. And, if you get tired of the view, there’s an outdoor swimming pool and hot tub, an indoor pool and spa facilities, tennis courts, a croquet lawn, and even a yacht. Open year round, you’ll also find roaring fires and windswept walks on offer in the winter as well as traditional Christmas festivities. Now where are those scones?
The Nare, Carne Beach, Veryan-in-Roseland, Truro, Cornwall, TR2 5PF. +44 (0)1872 501111, narehotel.co.uk
