Tregenna Castle Hotel

We were very disappointed by our room(84). We were over the kitchens and indoor swimming pool. The room was very hot and the window was fixed so that it could only be opened a few inches( Health and Safety). The noise from the kitchen fans was bearable But then it sounded as though heavy furniture was being moved. This went on until 11.30 P.M. At 10.30 we complained to reception they said all that we could do was ask for a room change next day.
We booked this break after a year of bad health so we decided we couldn't face the thought of another stressful night. Although the noise eventually stopped the heat meant neither of us slept much and we arrived home exhausted.
We loved the location of the hotel and the friendly and helpful staff but unfortunately it was ruined by the room.

2 readers found this review helpful

Tregenna is a pretty hotel set in beautiful grounds but our stay was ruined by the ancient bed in our room. We both woke up with bad backs and were sore for our enire stay. To put it in context, we also stayed at a B&B during our time away and the £55/night B&B was immeasurably better.
The bed was soft and lumpy. We were offered a different room and the mattress was even worse. It was such a shame as the hotel was beautiful and we had been really looking forward to our stay. I can't recommend the hotel to anyone because it was just so very uncomfortable. A real disappointment.

12 readers found this review helpful

ACCOMMODATION: We stayed in a self catering apartment named Porthia. (2 adults and 2 children aged 15 and 10). Porthia is situated on the Ground floor in close proximity to a busy road. To be fair to the hotel their literature does I believe mention this. Despite being beautifully screened off from the road, the traffic noise was unfortunately disturbing. There is no sea view from these apartments. The apartment was basically aesthetically pleasing, clean and tidy. NB No phone. The seating we felt was insufficient for comfort, a 3 seater sofa and a small tub chair. (As a family it's preferable to have a bit of space between potentially squabbling children!) Upon mentioning this we were immediately provided with an additional armchair which was really appreciated. The hotel dealt with all reported maintenance issues promptly. All the beds were I'm afraid very uncomfortable to sleep on, very firm and hard. With that and the road noise, none of us slept too well.
HOTEL & GROUNDS: The grounds are absolutely stunning with breathtaking views of the sea and St Ives. The public areas of the hotel were tastefully decorated. There is a large, comfortable reception area with plenty of seating. Wifi is available in the Reception and Brasserie areas which kept the children occupied with their laptops. The Reception desk is divided into 2, one area for holiday home owners/potential owners and the other for hotel and self catering guests. This did lead to queues at reception for queries etc. as only 2 staff could fit on this half of the desk. Not an efficient method of working and needs reviewing.
FOOD: A very limited choice of wines offered by the glass (3). I would recommend the Brasserie over the Restaurant in that there seems to be a better choice of menu and we received much better service, whereas in the restaurant the two evenings we ate there were carvery style and we felt very rushed. Also there was no real atmosphere in the restaurant, something was lacking. Perhaps it was because we'd hoped to be waited upon and made to feel special (which doesn't take much). One got the impression that the chef and waiters were too busy and too distracted to give more than cursory attention to the diners. NB. re the restaurant 'themed' evenings don't assume that the food has anything to do with the theme - check the menu before you book. The food was OK to good, though of note, I wouldn't recommend the crème caramel as being value for money at £4.50 and almost fitting into an egg cup.
It is useful to know that during our stay of 7 nights there were 1-2 weddings a day, which did mean that one had to wade through wedding guests who spilled out into the reception area. It also meant that one evening the restaurant venue was changed to accommodate a large wedding party of which guests/diners did not receive prior information.
ENTERTAINMENT: Occurred once during our stay which was excellent and created a great atmosphere, ideally would have liked more entertainment even once more would have helped.(There was one evening of entertainment for children and judging by the happy faces it must have been good.)
Laundry Facilities: There is one coin operated washing machine and tumble drier (plus a couple of irons and ironing boards) for the use of all hotel and self catering guests. An insufficient number as there were too many people trying to use the machines. The hotel does offer a laundry service which we only found out about upon asking. £10 for a large load., in by 9am back by 9am the next day. We used this and we found the price reasonable as we sent in an almost full black dustbin liner and were only charged £12.
LEISURE FACILITIES: Two good swimming pools, sauna, steam room and gym. Shame about the tennis courts and badminton court, a real let down. The tennis courts badly needed resurfacing and the badminton court was housed in a shed like structure with broken boarded up panes of glass, exposed and crumbling brickwork, leaking roof (you had to dodge the drips whilst playing).- get the idea. I'm hoping it's high on their list for maintenance! Free keep fit /yoga classes were on offer which was a definate plus. I can't comment on the other facilities as we didn't use them.
HAIR & BEAUTY TREATMENTS (Ocean Spa)
I was impressed with the skill and service, a welcome pampering. Reasonable value for money. It is worth noting that these are provided by an outside agency who can really only be contacted by phone as there is no one manning their reception area whilst they're carrying out treatments.
LOCATION: Perfect. Ideal for beaches, the closest is a 5-10 minute walk. It is a very steep but walkable slope down to this beach and would be very difficult to impossible for those who are less able. However we did discover that one could easily drive down to this beach and park within a few metres of it. The town and harbour are about a 15 minute leisurely walk. We visited another beautiful beach (opposite the Tate Gallery) where they provide surfing lessons, this was a good 25-30 minute walk.
WARNING: Do not under under circumstances drive into the town (It is now prohibited between 9.30am? and 4.30pm). It's very easy to do accidently and you'll regret it. The streets are extremely narrow, steep and overflowing with people, difficult to manoeuvre and find your way out of!
We had a truly wonderful time in St Ives but in hindsight had too high an expectation of the hotel and accommodation. Seeing the fantastic stunning surroundings (and the price) one gets seduced into expecting 4-5* accommodation. If one remembers that it is only 3* you surely cannot be disappointed (except possibly by the price). I would recommend that the hotel management take time to sit down as a team and look at things afresh through new eyes and think about the basic information that a guest might want to know, especially at the 'welcome reception' that left everyone wondering when someone was going to welcome us and provide information. This was the greatest opportunity wasted by the hotel. The impression I got was that the hotel was primarily focussed upon recruiting new holiday home owners and hosting weddings. I understand this but there does need to be a more balanced approach. I must point out that the staff were very friendly and helpful.
When reading this review keep in mind that these are just my and my family's opinions of our experience at that time. In conclusion I would like to say just, 'Remember that the hotel is 3* and you'll surely have a great time as it definitely a high 3*, which with a bit of work and responding to guests suggestions could be a 4*'

3 readers found this review helpful

Had a wonderful week in beautiful Hotel and grounds
The room was large very comfortable and warm with a marvellous view over St Ives bay.
Breakfast was well presented with a good selection of cereals, fruit, pastries and well cooked full English breakfast served in the delightful Trelawney restaurant.
Both the Dinner and a la carte menus were excellent with a superb choice and well prepared food.
All the staff we encountered from the bars, restaurants and reception were very courteous and helpful at all times.
The amenities at this hotel were excellent from the well manicured par 3 golf course, squash and badminton courts to gym, sauna and swimming pools.
We will look forward to staying here again

2 readers found this review helpful

Wow... what a beautiful hotel t in lovely grounds, our bedroom overlooked the beautiful bay of St Ives, great views to wake up to. Our room was clean and well presented with all the expected facilities of a good 3 star hotel.
Our children enjoyed the tennis and badmington as well as the indoor and outdoor heated pools.
We will be back again next year for sure!