The Old Quay House Hotel – boutique hotel in Fowey Cornwall

Old Quay House Hotel – review

Fowey is one of my favourite places in Cornwall, a beautiful estuary town set on the River Fowey. It’s somewhere I visited as a child growing up in Cornwall and have taken my children when on family holidays in North Cornwall. An overnight stay at The Old Quay House Hotel was an offer I couldn’t refuse.

Fowey is on the south coast, not far from St Austell and striking distance from the Eden Project. The Old Quay House is right in the centre of town, situated in the narrow main street. There is no parking at the hotel, I briefly stopped outside to drop off my bag and pick up a parking permit for the Old Station Road car park which is a ten-minute walk away.

Back at the hotel I was welcomed by the receptionist and shown to my room, a classic room on the second floor. There are no lifts at the hotel, it is an old building, so it would not be suitable for guests with mobility issues. The rooms have been stylishly refurbished with subtle hues; mine was well equipped with a double bed, ample storage, tea and coffee making facilities and a good wi-fi connection. My room looked out over Fore Street.  When I arrived the blind was open and it was rather warm –  there is a fan but no air conditioning. The bathroom had a modern white suite with a bath and overhead shower, large bottles of shampoo, conditioner and shower gel from the White Company are provided.

On the ground floor, there is a cosy seating area leading to the restaurant which in turn goes out to the terrace, a space with an amazing view out onto the river. It’s certainly a perfect spot to sit and take in the view.

It was a beautiful sunny afternoon so I went for a stroll around the town. There are shops, cafes and restaurants as well as the Aquarium which has always been a popular family attraction. From the Town Quay, there is a stunning view of the river, the sea in the distance and Polruan across the water. There is a ferry you can take to Polruan as well as boat trips along the river.

I was eating dinner at the hotel, so returned to freshen up, before heading to the terrace for a cold drink. The terrace is the ideal place to sit and watch the world go by, there were lots of little boats sailing on the river.

My table was located just inside the restaurant. The menu from chef Richard Massey is based on local seasonal, Cornish, produce.

To begin a tiny mushroom tart with warm bread and a choice of seasoned Cornish Butter and mushroom-infused butter, both were soft and full of flavour. To drink a glass of prosecco, perfect for a warm, summer evening.

For my starter, I chose the Cornish white crab meat with fennel, pink grapefruit and chervil. I love crab and this was a fresh and delicious dish.

To follow roast Cornish cod with pancetta, wild garlic, peas and oyster mushroom; the cod was cooked to perfection, it was succulent and the highlight of my dinner. I was glad that I did not choose a side dish as it was an ample portion.

Next a tiny pot of refreshing grapefruit gin and tonic sorbet as a palate cleanser.

For dessert, I was torn between the Cornish strawberries with oatmeal, lemon cream and strawberry sorbet and the dark chocolate & coffee mousse with almond liqueur ice cream. I plumped for the chocolate dessert which was heavenly.

Having eaten a fabulous meal, I took coffee out on the terrace, as it was still pleasantly warm, it was the perfect end to my evening.

I drifted off to sleep to the sound of the gulls outside. In the morning I went for a stroll down the esplanade to a viewing point where there is a fabulous view of the estuary, the sea and Polruan across the water.

Breakfast is served in the restaurant; a buffet with a great choice of cereals, dainty freshly baked pastries and fruit. There’s a choice of tea or coffee and a hot options menu. I couldn’t manage a full Cornish breakfast so opted for Cornish bacon with scrambled eggs, it was beautifully cooked and very tasty.

It was time to check out and wend my way home. Fowey is a place I often visit and I will definitely return to the Old Quay House, either for a meal or a drink on the terrace.

For more information visit: www.theoldquayhouse.com.
Address: 28 Fore Street, Fowey, Cornwall, PL23 1AQ.
Telephone: 01726 833302.

The hotel restaurant is open for lunch, dinner or drinks on the terrace. There is no parking at the hotel which is located in a narrow street.

The nearest train station to Fowey is Bodmin Parkway, on the mainline from Paddington, London. The station is about twelve miles away from Fowey. If you choose to drive the journey time is around five hours from London.

Fowey is perfectly positioned to visit the Eden Project, which is a short drive from the town. Also recommended are the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Around 30 minutes drive, these stunning gardens are definitely worth a visit.