Valentine’s Day (14th February) was chosen as a suitably romantic date for the opening of Merchants Manor, Cornwall’s newest luxury country house hotel, after a “six figure budget” transformation. With a spectacular location in award winning, sub-tropical gardens overlooking Falmouth Bay, Merchants Manor combines relaxed luxury with traditional Cornish warmth and hospitality.
The name change from the previous Green Lawns – branding for the project has been undertaken by local firm A-Side Studio – pays respect to the family that built the original hotel and celebrates Falmouth’s mercantile past. The emphasis will be on attentiveness, comfort, relaxation and “hospitality” in its original meaning.
“We have no time for the “package holiday” style,” commented Sioned Parry-Rudlin, who with husband Nick Rudlin, owns and manages the new hotel. “Every one of our guests is individual to us and we will prepare them a unique and individual experience.”
Originally the Manor House residence of a prominent 19th Century merchant family, the House on the Hill, was built 100 years ago. There has been an hotel here for over 50 years. Merchants Manor has 39 rooms, a function space for 350 and a 13 metre heated indoor swimming pool, sauna and hot tub.
The original Manor House was created with a no-expense spared philosophy and the restoration takes advantage of the lavish open spaces and meticulous details of the building.
As Sioned and Nick have worked in senior positions in the US and in some of London’s most famous hotels and restaurants their standards are high – and they have insisted on a strong Cornish influence on the hotel’s restoration. The first stage, now completed saw local craftsmen involved in every detail.
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