Cornwall, from St Ives to Newquay, is awash with hotels and spa resorts, but
travel any further north than Rick Stein country on the coast and suddenly
quality accommodation is harder to come by.
That is why Elements Surf Hotel and Cafe Bar, in Bude, is a gem.
Perched on the cliff tops between the seaside towns of Bude and Widemouth Bay,
the 11-room residence has recently been refurbished and redesigned into a
relaxed hotel.
Bude is situated on what is known as the Atlantic Heritage Coast of Cornwall,
adjacent to fine sandy beaches and the South West Coastal Path, which is
accessible less than 50m from the hotel.
The surfing beaches, however, are some of the finest in England and it is this
that attracts many tourists to the area. To accommodate this, the hotel has
a drying room and storage facilities for surfboards, cycles and other
outdoor equipment. And should the surf not give you a good enough workout,
there's the hotel's small gym and sauna.
If this all sounds a little too strenuous, you can kick back on the hotel's
large deck with a drink or a book and soak up some sun while taking in views
of the wild and rocky Cornish coastline. The sunsets from this vantage
point, as well as inside the hotel restaurant, are breathtaking.
The rooms: The 11 rooms are a mix of singles, doubles and twins.
Families are catered for with the double rooms easily accommodating an
additional bunk or sofa bed. The rooms are modestly decorated in neutral
tones, brightened by splashes of colour in the cushions and throws.
The beds are soft, the pillows fluffy and a range of DVDs, CDs and even
Playstation games are available on request. The only drawback was the size
of the bathroom, which was extremely small for an ensuite - no walk-in
shower or roll-top baths here. However, it was clean and the water pressure
powerful. Some of the rooms have a sea view and are light and airy. Fresh
linen and towels are provided daily.
The food: Another thing that seems to be in short supply in far north
Cornwall is a decent restaurant serving simple yet sophisticated food. There
wasn't much on offer in Bude itself unless you wanted fish and chips or an
Indian. We were hard-pressed to find somewhere offering an enticing menu
that made use of the local produce, so I didn't doubt it for a second when
hotel owner Richard Steel told me Elements' restaurant is full all year
round. Indeed the Sunday evening we were there, people had to be turned
away.
In theme with the rest of the hotel, the restaurant is simply furnished. The
high-backed oak chairs and tables, surfboards on the walls and other bespoke
artworks meld harmoniously to create a relaxed dining atmosphere. The room
is open, sunny and welcoming with large windows providing maximum views of
the coast and Bude.
On the menu is a good selection of starters and mains, and, as expected
considering the location, the majority are seafood-based. I started with a
delicious course of deep-fried courgette flowers with pancetta and courgette
mousse, followed by the best fillet of cod I have tasted. It was fresh, the
meat white, fleshy and perfectly cooked, all perched on a bed of creamed
potatoes, green beans and caper beurre noisette.
My partner had goat cheese croustade with avocado and tomato salsa followed by
a perfectly cooked Kilkhampton sirloin fillet served with hand-cut chips and
a red wine and tarragon butter. We finished off sharing a divine cherry,
vanilla and almond cheesecake with bitter cocoa sorbet. It rivalled anything
I have eaten in London restaurants.
All the meat, produce and seafood on the menu is sourced locally; the beef
from as close as the farm next door and the fish and seafood from a
fishmonger, no more than a kilometre away, who sources direct from Cornish
fishing boats each morning. All the stocks, sauces, breads and confections
are also all made in house.
We ended up eating at the hotel restaurant both evenings because the food was
so good.
Star quality: The romantic sunsets viewed over dinner in the
restaurant, the food and the competent yet unobtrusive service of the hotel
staff.
Who stays there: The hotel attracts a broad range of clientele from
families to single travellers and business people. The restaurant is
frequented by locals and tourists alike.
Access all areas: Elements has a large carpark. The restaurant is
accessible by wheelchair but not the bedrooms, which occupy the second and
third levels of the hotel. There is no lift.
What we think: Elements is a no fuss, comfortable hotel, which succeeds
in its aim of providing guests with an inviting and stress-free holiday
environment. Recommended if you’re planning a stay in far north Cornwall.
But wait there’s more: Elements is about to undergo further
refurbishment, which will include an extension to the restaurant and the
addition of eight, double-storey luxury suites, boasting top-to-bottom sea
views and overall luxury accommodation at the moment unrivalled on this part
of the coast.
Elements also organises learn-to-surf breaks. In partnership with the local
Raven Surf School, Elements offers either five or seven-day breaks, which
includes accommodation and surf lessons. Check the website for details.
The bottom line: A night at Elements costs £45 per person per night
with a £10 supplement for one night stays. There is a £20 supplement for
single occupancy in double rooms.
Details: Elements Surf Hotel, Bude; tel. 01288 352386.
For more information or to book visit the Elements
Surf Hotel website.
Be patient, be patient. You were in too much hurry to do a piece on The Elements. We stayed in Bude for three weeks and rate it one of the best 'watering holes' in all Britain, eating out several times at Elements. By autumn, it should be ready for full occupation. Go there!
John Benn, Kingskerswell., Devon.
All the above true. Stayed 15th July for 3 nights. It was a really good find.The restaurant food (only ate in there once unfortunately) was superb and we have frequented some good restaurants. The Guiness ice cream was yummy. Straight out of hotel onto coast path, who could want more.
Deb, Surbiton,