Harbour Hotel & Spa St Ives

The hotel stands in a relatively old building. I don't know whether it had been built as an hotel or it originally was the house of a worthy family. One can't expect such hotels to be as rational as the new ones. With my wife I spent 8 nights there. The view on St. Ives bay is great, service professional, the hotel is clean, has a charming, elegant atmosphere. We got a room sufficiently large, the bathroom too but had few, too small drawers and a small wardrobe. The lift is old fashioned, small. It reaches the 3rd floor only, so the access to the 4 rooms of the 4th floor is through a steep and narrow staircase. The lift should be modified! The shutter of the cabin does not automatically close. It is too often forgotten open. When that happens guests have to walk up/down the stairs. Not pleasant at all especially for old, tired people.

a month ago · via Google

This was lovely. It's the sort of hotel you're genuinely excited to arrive at. You walk into a bright, airy, beautifully renovated old building kept to a really high, clean standard, with a grand central staircase and an old vintage lift taking you up. The staff were welcoming, smiling and friendly, the reception light and inviting, and you can see they've embraced the St Ives art scene, with bright, colourful artwork throughout that makes the most of the light the town is famous for. That feeling carries through to the room. We paid for a sea view, which I'd highly recommend. You get a balcony and an incredible view that could almost be the Mediterranean, looking out over the stunning beach towards Carbis Bay, just to the north of St Ives. We were lucky with the weather too. A really nice touch was the gin and tonic waiting for us to enjoy on the balcony on arrival, with Classic FM playing as we came in. The room was immaculate. The bed was very comfortable, a medium soft mattress with high quality bedding. My only slight disappointment was that it was a king rather than a super king, but it was still lovely. The bathroom, like a lot of British hotel bathrooms, was on the small side, but very nice and clean, with a bath, lovely soaps, and beautiful blue glassware dotted around the room that I loved so much I'm going to buy some myself. Downstairs is just as good. The bar is beautiful, light and airy and modern, with more artwork, friendly staff, a great drink selection and incredible views over the sea. It's somewhere you can genuinely settle in with a book or laptop and a glass of fizz, wine or a beer. The terrace, with its comfy chairs, is probably one of the best British hotel terraces I've ever come across. Breakfast the next day in their wonderful restuarant with the same great sea views, shame it was only continental included, as for the cost of the room I would have expected cooked to be included. Only filtered coffee too, come on, the cost of one Latte wont break your bank. The spa is great too. The pool is lovely for cooling off and relaxing, though it could be a touch deeper for a proper swim, and the hot tub was fantastic, actually hot, which is rarer than it should be. The rooms are slightly on the small side, but don't let that put you off, as they're beautiful and there's enough room to move around comfortably. One last thing worth mentioning is the concierge parking, which is brilliant in a town as tricky as St Ives. You simply pull up, they take your car and park it for you, and bring it back when you need it. Fantastic service. We will definitely be back. A wonderful stay.

a month ago · via Google

We had the most wonderful experience celebrating our special day at the hotel, and a huge part of that was thanks to Ross and Bliss. Ross was absolutely fantastic behind the bar—attentive, friendly, and genuinely invested in making sure we had the best time. He went above and beyond to look after us, and it really felt like he was part of the celebration. Sharing such an important day with someone so warm and engaging made it even more memorable. Bliss was equally incredible. From the moment we arrived, she was welcoming, organised, and completely on top of everything. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and her attention to detail ensured the function room looked perfect. Her effort and coordination made the entire day run smoothly, and it simply wouldn’t have been the same without her. We’re so grateful to both Ross and Bliss for making our celebration so special—truly unforgettable service.

3 months ago · via Google

How can one hotel can possess one of the best views in Cornwall while simultaneously delivering some of the most bewildering service we've experienced. The problems began before we had even settled into our room. We specifically booked a cot for our daughter, yet when we arrived there was no cot. Travelling with a baby is already enough of a logistical exercise without having to remind the hotel about one of the key reasons you booked the room. We also requested ice for our room, giving almost an hour's notice and explaining that our daughter would soon be asleep. Somehow this seemed to be a challenge. On arrival, the porter made no attempt to assist with our luggage. When we asked if there was somewhere we could wait before our room was ready, we were told there was a lounge. Full stop. No directions, no offer to show us where it was either. Our room fridge also didn't work for the duration of our stay. The valet parking service deserves special recognition. Harbour Hotel charges for valet parking, yet when we gave one hour and fifteen minutes' notice that we would need our car, we were told it still might not be possible because they were busy. The concerns around security were even more remarkable. We were told we could safely leave our luggage at reception because there was "always someone there". Yet on three separate occasions I returned to reception and found nobody there at all, while our bags sat unattended. On our final moment, knowing we would be leaving at 5:30am with a sleeping baby, I specifically asked in advance for our car keys to be available. I was assured someone would be at reception. The receptionist said there'll be somebody there but if not, the door where the keys were stored was unlocked and that I could simply go and get them myself. A guest being directed to help themselves to a cupboard full of car keys might be acceptable in a village cricket club. In a premium hotel offering valet parking, it is ridiculous.. The frustrating thing is that none of these issues are major in isolation. But together they create the impression of a hotel that simply doesn't care very much. Forgotten cots, broken fridges, impossible ice deliveries, absent reception staff, questionable security practices and a valet service that struggles with the "parking" part of valet parking all add up. Harbour Hotel St Ives has a spectacular location. The ocean views are stunning. We won't be returning.

2 months ago · via Google