The Falmouth Beach Hotel
It is a hotel that has tastefully dominated the landscape of Falmouth’s seafront for many years. It has celebrated marriages, birthdays, Christenings, personal achievements, professional awards and has continually developed into a hotel that boasted one of the most comprehensive leisure complexes and largest restaurants in a hotel across the county.
The Falmouth Beach Hotel has catered for thousands of visitors and hosted a multitude of corporate events. Behind its breathtaking presence and up-to-date facilities are the family and staff who worked tirelessly to bring the hotel into success.
The hotel came into existence in 1984 offering visitors 66 rooms and outstanding views and is the hotel that most will remember today. For some, casting their memory back a little further will bring images of the ‘Pentargan’.
The Pentargan Hotel‘
‘My mum was the house keeper at the Pentargan Hotel and quite often had to take us kids with her. I started cleaning to help the chambermaids on Saturdays and they gave me ‘wages’ out of their tip money. When the hotel was bought out my dad worked on building the extension part and I was paid properly as a Saturday Girl…my first proper job with both parents there to look out for me, so sad to see it go.’ – Shelly
The Evans family who, at this time, owned St Michael’s hotel purchased the derelict hotel at the bottom of the hotel gardens in late 1983. Along with the Croft behind, both hotels were developed over a remarkably quick five month period.
St Michael's Hotel
Over the next ten years the hotels continuing development saw the annexing of the adjoining apartment blocks and the Croft integrated by an overhead link corridor, resulting in a final 125 bedrooms.
In the last 25 years the hotel has been awarded silver for its commitment to sustainability, the largest Best Western hotel ever to achieve this award. It has won the ‘Bernard Smales Trophy’ for its gardens and grounds and Britain in Bloom on numerous occasions.
Award Winning Gardens & Grounds
‘it was like ‘Fawlty Towers’, sometimes with guests coming into the laundry asking if this was the swimming pool! We all had a laugh. The good old days were the best with Mr. Glover and Mr. Evans. It was a sad day when Mr. Evans, who had built the hotel up died. My thoughts are with Mrs. Evans today as we see the hotel destroyed.’ – Anita
A stunning contribution to landscape of the seafront
As fire took hold of the magnificent building yesterday staff successfully and commendably evacuated all visitors and guests. They then continued to work in temporary and makeshift offices to ensure current guests and arrivals were catered for. Nearby hotels and establishments pulled together to help in any way they could while over 100 fire-fighters and emergency service workers battled the relentless blaze.
It is to Mrs Evans, Best Western and all the hotels staff that we extend our sympathy and support for the loss of this magnificent hotel and above all the jobs that have been taken with it. We wish you all the very best in re-building the hotel. May it be speedy and successful.
Pentargan Hotel - The View From Gyllyngvase Beach
